The Light Chaser: Of Ireland and canvas wraps.

February 28, 2015
The Light Chaser: Of Ireland and canvas wraps.

The Light Chaser is brought to you by MyProLab.com, a professional photographic lab offering services to the consumer market. MyProLab.com, the official photographic lab of Media Group 31 (our parent company) and Alway Photography. The Light Chaser. A blog by Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. Chapter 6: Of Ireland and wrapped canvas. I’m going to take a break from the past three chapters, which…

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The Millennials: Jen Hlady cheers on the next generation.

February 28, 2015
The Millennials: Jen Hlady cheers on the next generation.

SEE VIDEO HERE OF HART CHEER TEAM. Editor’s Note: Sustaining a community and keeping it vibrant requires diversity on many levels, especially among age groups. An unintended movement the last few years has been the increased number of millennials who have taken a role in community and business leadership in our communities. A millennial, also known as Generation Y, is…

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27th Circuit Court sentencings: convicted pot dealer appears via video from prison

February 28, 2015
27th Circuit Court sentencings: convicted pot dealer appears via video from prison

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. HART — A 26-year-old Grand Rapids man currently serving two prison terms for delivery/manufacture of marijuana in a Michigan Department of Corrections prison appeared in 27th Circuit Court this week via video conferencing for his sentencing on another drug conviction. John Allan Denherder, who is currently lodged in the Charles Egeler Reception & Guidance Center…

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Foul play ruled out in man’s death

February 27, 2015
Foul play ruled out in man’s death

OTTO TWP. — The death of Jack A. Fielstra, 71, of Rothbury is currently considered an accidental death, but it may have been caused by a medical condition, law enforcement officials said Friday morning, Feb. 27. Fielstra’s badly-burned body was found by Oceana County Sheriff’s deputies Thursday, Feb. 26, at 9:46 a.m. in an unattached garage that was heavily damaged…

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Commissioner’s drunk driving trial ends in hung jury; new trial in April

February 27, 2015
Commissioner’s drunk driving trial ends in hung jury; new trial in April

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. HART — Oceana County Commissioner Andrew Sebolt’s drunk driving case ended in a hung jury this week in 78th District Court, and a new trial will take place at the end of April. Sebolt, 33, of 4124 E. Hazel Rd., Hart was arrested last June by the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office for operating while intoxicated.…

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What’s eating you?

February 27, 2015
What’s eating you?

Renew. Rebuild. Recover. A blog by West Michigan Community Mental Health.  Eating disorders are serious and complex mental illnesses. According to the National Eating Disorders Association, eating disorders affect more than twice as many American women and girls than men and boys; however, like any mental illness, eating disorders can affect people of any gender, age, race or religion. One of the…

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78th District Court sentencings: 71-year-old man serves jail time for coffee mug assault

February 27, 2015
78th District Court sentencings: 71-year-old man serves jail time for coffee mug assault

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. HART – The following were sentenced recently in 78th District Court: –      Dennis Clare Gordon, 71, of 9247 Frances St., Hesperia, pleaded no contest Jan. 26 to aggravated assault. He was sentenced to 43 days in jail with credit for 43 days served; $75 in fines and costs; one year discretionary jail to ensure compliance…

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‘Fiddler on the Roof’ debuts tonight in Hart.

February 27, 2015

A review by Hannah Kostal, special to OCP.  Once again the Hart High School Drama Club has outdone itself, this time with a wonderful rendition of the classic, “Fiddler on the Roof.” I’m sure we’re all pretty familiar with the story: Tevye, a humble worker and the father of five daughters attempts to maintain his religious and cultural traditions and…

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Elderly man’s burned body found

February 26, 2015

OTTO TWP. — The badly-burned body of Jack A. Fielstra, 71, of Rothbury was found by Oceana County Sheriff’s deputies Thursday, Feb. 26, at 9:46 a.m. in an unattached garage that was heavily damaged by fire. Deputies were dispatched to 8376 S. 116th Ave. to check on Fielstra’s well-being “and upon inspecting the interior of the garage found the badly-burned…

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Suspect returns to crime scene, gets caught

February 26, 2015
Suspect returns to crime scene, gets caught

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. GREENWOOD TWP. — Greed is the apparent motive for a for a 44-year-old Montague man who reportedly stole a trailer just over a week ago from David Allen Racing Motorsports only to return and allegedly steal a snowmobile. A larceny of a 2014 Shorelander utility trailer valued at $2,000 from the DAR lot was reported to…

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Recent death, Feb. 26, 2015.

February 26, 2015

Namine – McKenzie Michelle Denton, newborn of Mears, passed away February 23, 2015.  King Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Hart. List of 2015 deaths on record. 

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Consumers’ Home Heating Credit helps residents

February 25, 2015

JACKSON, Mich. – Consumers Energy is helping Michigan residents stay warm this winter, offering a reminder that help with heating bills may be available through the Michigan Home Heating Credit and federal Earned Income Credit. “We want to help Michigan residents manage their winter heating bills, and the Home Heating Credit is just one example of that,” said Garrick Rochow,…

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Man injured on US-31 while swerving to miss car

February 25, 2015
Man injured on US-31 while swerving to miss car

GRANT TWP. — A 28-year-old Hart man suffered minor injuries in a single-car accident during a snowstorm on US-31 near the Rothbury rest area Tuesday, Feb. 24, shortly after 11 a.m. Claud Ray Beck was traveling south in a 2008 Ford Fusion, according to an accident report from the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office, and “stated there was a vehicle either…

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Relay For Life kickoff March 5

February 25, 2015
Relay For Life kickoff March 5

SHELBY — Relay For Life of Oceana County will host its kickoff event at the Shelby United Methodist Church Thursday, March 5, at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is invited. Teams and survivors are encouraged to attend; sign up; and receive team packet information. Refreshments will be available. For more information, check out the organization’s Facebook Page.    

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Closings and cancellations, Feb. 25, 2015.

February 25, 2015
Closings and cancellations, Feb. 25, 2015.

Closings and cancellations are sponsored by Smith & Eddy Insurance of Scottville, Manistee and Ludington. Closings and cancellations for Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015: This list may be updated. Hart Public Schools (Spitler Elementary conferences and book fair are still scheduled, 4-7 p.m. tonight). Shelby Public Schools. Pentwater Public Schools. Oceana Council on Aging.

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Oceana EMS to receive grant to increase cardiac arrest survival

February 24, 2015
Oceana EMS to receive grant to increase cardiac arrest survival

HART — Emergency Medical Services (EMS) face numerous challenges in responding to the needs of rural communities. The Michigan Rural EMS Network was formed to help rural EMS professionals address these challenges in Michigan. In September 2014, Michigan Rural EMS Network received two federal grants from the Office of Rural Health Policy for its cardiac arrest initiative, the Michigan Resuscitation Consortium (MiResCu). From…

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West Shore scholarship application deadline approaching.

February 24, 2015

VICTORY TWP. – West Shore Community College is accepting scholarship applications from students who plan to attend for the 2015-16 academic year. The deadline to apply for scholarships is April 17. The college, the WSCC Foundation, community groups and private donors offer numerous scholarships to fit nearly all student academic records, backgrounds, and financial situations. WSCC’s web site lists many of the…

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Closings, cancellations, Feb. 24, 2015.

February 24, 2015
Closings, cancellations, Feb. 24, 2015.

  Closings and cancellations are sponsored by Smith & Eddy Insurance of Scottville, Manistee and Ludington. Closings and cancellations for Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015: This list may be updated. Shelby Schools after-school activities; Hart Schools Focus; Hesperia Schools Focus/Pace and girls basketball game vs. Pentwater; Walkerville Schools Focus and Pace; Oceana Council on Aging closed for the rest of the…

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Oceana Foundation to increase grant opportunities; $3.5 million awarded in 25-year history

February 24, 2015
Oceana Foundation to increase grant opportunities; $3.5 million awarded in 25-year history

SHELBY — How does a person choose which charitable cause to support since there are so many organizations doing great work to help make Oceana better? And how do those nonprofits make known their immediate needs? That’s where the Community Foundation for Oceana County comes in. In 2014, the foundation awarded 32 grants totaling $35,193 in its two competitive grant rounds.…

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CTE: Chase Ray prepares for a career in welding.

February 24, 2015
CTE: Chase Ray prepares for a career in welding.

VICTORY TWP. (Mason Co.) – Most high school students go to school on a daily basis without really knowing what direction they want to go after they graduate. Some may think a four year degree is the right path for them and others may feel like college isn’t in their future and they want to go directly into the workforce.…

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Fugitive arrest, fraud complaint

February 24, 2015
Fugitive arrest, fraud complaint

HART — The following is recent law enforcement activity: Friday, Feb. 20, 2015: – 6:44 p.m. (Michigan State Police), fugitive arrest, a 39-year-old Fremont man was arrested on an outstanding child support warrant, Weaver St., Hesperia. Monday, Feb. 23, 2015: – 9:09 a.m., (Oceana Co. Sheriff’s Office), property damage accident, 400 block of S. Chester St. – 1:17 p.m. (MSP),…

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