OceanaCountyPress.com

Service club announces January schedule

December 27, 2014

PENTWATER — The Pentwater Service Club has scheduled a Jan. 8 business meeting that will include an update by State Rep. Jon Bumstead (R-Newaygo) regarding the legislature’s plans for 2015. On Jan. 15, Harry Burkholder, a community planner at Resilient Michigan, will give an overview of this new community engagement and technical services program that helps communities be more resilient…

MSP investigating sex crime

December 26, 2014

GOLDEN TWP. — The Hart post of the Michigan State Police is investigating an incident involving criminal sexual conduct that was reported Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 11 a.m. No other information was immediately available. Other recent MSP activity: Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2014: – 4 p.m., a 38-year-old Muskegon man lodged in the Lake County Jail was arrested on a fugitive…

UPDATE: High school break-in suspects identified

December 26, 2014

HART — Warrants are being sought for three suspects identified in the break-in at Hart High School Friday morning, Dec. 26. Police are seeking warrants for an 18-year-old Hart man, who has confessed to the crime, said Lt. Craig Mast of the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office, along with two other male suspects ages 17 and a 16. Janitors discovered the…

Celebrate the holidays responsibly

December 26, 2014

HART — With the holiday season upon us, the Michigan State Police is encouraging citizens to celebrate responsibly. If your holiday party involves alcohol, designate a sober driver before the party begins. In addition, party hosts are asked to make sure all guests leave with a sober driver. “Driving under the influence of alcohol endangers everyone, from the driver to…

Police tracking high school break-in suspects

December 26, 2014

HART — Janitors discovered what are believed to be three suspects who broke into Hart High School shortly after 7 a.m. Friday, Dec. 26. The suspects ran off, and Oceana County Sheriff’s deputies are currently tracking them with the assistance of the Mason County K-9 unit. “The janitorial staff found that someone had broken in to the high school,” states…

Century-old farmhouse burns to the ground

December 23, 2014

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. CRYSTAL TWP. — Paul Oomen awakened at about 4 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, to a loud “boom” and discovered smoke coming from behind his refrigerator. He escaped from his two-story farmhouse at 2480 E. Hammett Rd. with just a few possessions and called 911. Oomen’s house, which was built in the late 1800s and has been…

Hart PD spreads Christmas cheer

December 23, 2014

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. HART — Officers from the Hart Police Department got into the Christmas spirit Monday evening, Dec. 22, when they visited a family that includes four little girls and gave each child several presents and all the fixings for a delicious holiday meal. Of course, the officers made sure that Santa Claus came along with them…

Montague woman killed in crash

December 22, 2014

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. BLUE LAKE TWP. (MUSKEGON COUNTY) — A 36-year-old Montague woman died in a single-vehicle crash on Russell Road near Owasippe Road Sunday night, Dec. 21, according to the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office. She was declared dead at the scene, said Lt. Shane Brown. Police were still sorting out the details of the horrific crash Monday…

Hart man receives longer prison term for not testifying against co-defendant; claims threats were made against his child

December 22, 2014

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. HART — A 33-year-old Hart man was sentenced Monday, Dec. 22, in 27th Circuit Court to a minimum of three-and-a-half years to a maximum of 25 years in prison for felony convictions of forgery and uttering and publishing. Kevin Robert Oomen, of 3241 N. 72nd Ave., was looking at a prison sentence of up to…

Roy’s Kids program makes Christmas brighter for Oceana children; Community Foundation fund established

December 22, 2014

OCEANA COUNTY — If you see patrol cars out on Christmas Eve with Santa and his bag of gifts, it’s not because Santa’s sleigh broke down – it’s the Roy’s Kids program out making Christmas brighter for area families. Roy’s Kids was started in 1994 by Oceana Sheriff Deputy Roy Strait as an outreach activity from his role as school liaison.…

Troopers respond to crashes

December 22, 2014

OCEANA COUNTY — The following is weekend activity for the Hart post of the Michigan State Police: Friday, Dec. 19, 2014 – 7:40 p.m., car/deer crash, Harrison Rd. and 144th Ave., Elbridge Twp. Saturday, Dec. 20, 2014 – 12:43 p.m., two-car property damage accident, Oceana Dr. and Polk Rd., Hart Twp. – 8:01 p.m., one-car property damage accident, US-31, Grant…

Dune enthusiast organizing rally; DNR lowers voucher price to $3

December 21, 2014

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. GOLDEN TWP. — Local sand dune enthusiast Chad Coker is organizing a rally at his Silver Lake business, Appletree Automotive, en route to a public meeting regarding the embattled Silver Lake State Park voucher system at the Golden Township Hall Monday, Jan.12, at 6 p.m. A proposed voucher system at Silver Lake State Park has…

27th Circuit Court sentencings

December 19, 2014

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. HART — The following were sentenced Monday, Dec. 15, by 27th Circuit Court Judge Terrence R. Thomas: – Xaveria Clarice Stockwell, 35, of 507 6th St., Ludington, was found guilty Nov. 3 of false report of a felony. She was sentenced to five months in jail with credit for 11 days served; sentence to be…

78th District Court sentencings

December 19, 2014

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. HART – The following were sentenced Monday, Dec. 15, in 78th District Court: – Jeffrey Eugene Riggs, 38, of 2438 W. Lake Rd., Hart, was found guilty Dec. 15 of operating while impaired. He was sentenced to 93 days discretionary jail; outpatient treatment; and $1,055 in fines and costs. Conviction reportable to the Secretary of…

Snowmobile, guns stolen in break-in; warrant issued for New Era man

December 18, 2014

GRANT TWP. — Detectives from the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office have obtained a warrant for a New Era man who they say was involved in a break-in that resulted in the theft of a snowmobile, snowmobile trailer, several guns and many other items. The snowmobile, the trailer and a few of the other stolen items were recovered outside a residence…

Police respond to assault at school

December 18, 2014

HART — Officers from the Hart Police Department were called to investigate an assault at Hart Middle School Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 16, that resulted in facial bruising to a victim. Police are sending a report to the Oceana County Prosecutor’s Office to see if charges will be filed in juvenile court. Other recent HPD activity: Monday, Dec. 15, 2014 –…

No insurance arrest

December 18, 2014

GRANT TWP. — A 30-year-old Hart man was arrested by Michigan State Police troopers from the Hart post Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 3:10 p.m. for no insurance following a traffic stop on Oceana Drive near Roosevelt Road. MSP also responded to a two-car property damage accident Wednesday at 4:19 p.m. on Shelby Road near the Marathon gas station. The MSP…

Police seek info about golf cart stolen in break-in

December 18, 2014

GOLDEN TWP. — A newer model golf cart valued at $5,000 was stolen during a recent break-in to a pole barn in the 400 block of N. 48th Avenue, and the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help to track down the culprits. “On Dec. 13, 2014, the victim reported the break-in to a pole barn at…