Newaygo County Clerk Jason VanderStelt announced that he will seek re-election as County Clerk for a third term. He will be a candidate in the August 6th Republican primary. “It has been an honor and privilege to serve as your Newaygo County Clerk for the past 8 years,” said VanderStelt. “And I am excited about the opportunity to continue serving the citizens of this great County.” “If re-elected,” he said, “I will continue to pursue best practices regarding the maintenance of birth and death records, marriage license, concealed weapons permits and veteran discharge records. I will continue to serve the boards and positions as prescribed by law to include Clerk to the Newaygo County Board of Commissioners, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Election Board of Canvassers, Clerk of the County Election Commission, County Plat Board and to serve on the County Apportionment Board.” “One of our biggest challenges was responding to Ballot Proposal 2 of 2022,” said VanderStelt. “Part of this proposal requires each County to offer the use of an early voting site up to nine days before election day. To prepare for the changes I set up multiple meetings with the local clerks and offered to hold an early voting site in the Newaygo County Board of Commissioners Room for any precinct interested. Based on cost estimates as well as realized costs this initiative saved Newaygo County over $500,000.” Jason VanderStelt is a graduate of Hesperia High School and received his Bachelor of Business Accounting at Baker College. After serving in the United States Air Force as an Electrical and Environmental Specialist on F-15 Aircraft, he worked as an accountant for Hackley Hospital, Powers Motor Sports, TrueNorth Community Services and the Newaygo County Treasurer. In addition, VanderStelt also has coached Football and Baseball in Fremont for the last 12 years. “The opportunity to be a positive role model to the youth in Newaygo County has been an amazing and rewarding experience.” After four years as the Accountant for the Newaygo County Treasurer’s Office, VanderStelt was elected to the Newaygo County Clerk's position in 2016. During his time in office, VanderStelt has worked hard to build on the work of previous office holders and to continue a very positive work relationship with other Elected Officials, Department Heads and Employees. His accounting background has worked well with the Newaygo County Finance Department ensuring that the Clerk's Office audits are perfect since he has been elected. VanderStelt indicated that he is” grateful” for the support and trust of the residents of Newaygo County and hopes to continue working with all constituents.
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Oak Forest Health Issues in Newaygo County
From Rod Denning, District Forester Oceana, Newaygo, & Muskegon Conservation Districts Newaygo’s oak trees and forests are showing signs of poor health in many areas of the County. As you drive along the rural roads you can notice trees that have died or are in decline based off the lack of leaves, this has been evident for a few years now. Our oak resource is getting older, and it is commonly growing on sandy, droughty, low nutrient soils. Oak forests are fire dependent, and the lack of fire allows our oak forests to grow more densely, the land no longer has this natural process that reduces tree density. These issues cause the aging oak resource to experience stress! To complicate the issue, we now have other tree stressors that have become evident across the landscape. Spongy Moth (Formerly Gypsy Moth) In 2019, Michigan began to see the latest outbreak of this defoliating insect. The moth quickly spread across the landscape, peaking in 2020 and 2021 with 1 million and 1.3 million acres defoliated respectively. However, population collapse began in 2022, continued in 2023, and it is expected to continue in 2024. Fungus, virus and insect predators are responsible for this population decline. Here in Newaygo County, we have seen in some places three years of tree defoliation. Healthy trees can typically withstand some leaf defoliation, but repeated defoliation of many years, along with an aging resource starts of have an impact on an oak tree’s health. This tree stress also makes it easier for native insect and disease issues to begin to have an impact on a tree’s health. Oak Decline Disease Complex Spongy moth greatly accelerated tree stress across the landscape. Now we are seeing “oak decline”, a disease complex driven by two opportunistic native insect and disease issues. A native beetle called two-lined chestnut borer is now being attracted to lots of oak in stress. Their larvae galleries girdle the trees conducting tissue. This causes branch dieback from the top of the tree and downward, typically over multiple years. As dieback progresses, epicormic branches (little tufts of leaves) develop along the trunk. Trees can eventually be killed by the invasion. A fungus, called armillaria root rot is also attracted to trees in stress This native fungus is common in our soils. A typical healthy oak has high starch levels in their roots, this will produce defensive chemicals that prevent root rot invasion. However, as a tree becomes stressed – starch is mobilized to sugars, making the tree vulnerable to root rot attack! Eventually root rot can kill a tree over many years. Oak Wilt Another tree disease that can be found in our forest is oak wilt. Oak wilt can be found across the Midwest U.S. in 24 states. It is found in 57 of the 83 Michigan counties. It impacts red oak group oaks – Northern red oak, black oak, Northern pin oak commonly in Newaygo County. It can also impact white oak group oaks but is much less severe. The disease is caused by a fungus that will clog the water transport system of a tree, causing the “wilt” and death. Common symptoms are bronzing of the leaves, crown dieback – pale leaves begin at the top of tree and drop rapidly causing a tree to lose all of its leaves in two to three weeks. This typically happens in June, July, and August, when you would not expect a tree to lose its leaves. Tree death can occur in a month! Oak wilt can spread naturally two ways, one is a sap feeding beetle that spreads it overland, being attracted to fresh wounds on oak trees. The high-risk period is April 15 to July 15, this is when the beetle is most active. Once the tree is infected, it moves the fungus to neighboring oaks that share root grafts with each other. Slowly this spread the disease around the forest causing dead tree pockets. To stop the spread of the disease it is recommended that you don’t trim or harvest oak trees between April 15th and July 15th! If a tree is infected you should destroy the infected tree by burning, burying, debarking, or chipping the tree into mulch. In Conclusion The bottom line is that we have an aging oak resource, denser oak forest stands, and poor site conditions of sandy, droughty soils, with low nutrients. Then an outbreak of defoliation caused by spongy moth came along, then “oak decline” caused by the secondary issues of armillaria root rot fungus, and two-lined chestnut borer. The Result? Oak tree mortality showing up across the landscape. If you think you have trees that are experiencing oak decline or oak wilt and would like help determining what is happening on your property, and how to move forward? What next steps to take? reach out to your District Forester, Rod Denning at 616-920-9775 or email at rod.denning@macd.org. Newaygo County Jail Administrator John Borgman will be leaving his post early next month after a lengthy career with the NC Sheriff’s Office. We caught up with him to pose a few questions. Where are you headed next? I will be moving into the private sector as a jail services vendor. I was not actively looking for a new position, I love what I do here at the jail; but I have known the leadership at this company for quite some time and they approached me with an intriguing offer that better fits the needs of my family. I will miss the Sheriff’s Department and the coworkers who have become friends, but I’m excited to branch out and try something new. How long have you been with the Sheriff's Office? Almost 17 years! I started as a department intern while attending Baker College and hired in as a Corrections Officer in October of 2007. What led you to go into Law enforcement? My mother encouraged me to consider the field when I graduated from high school, she thought it might be a good fit. I went down my own path for a few years before realizing she was right. I enrolled at Baker College to study criminal justice and connected with the corrections specialty. I wanted to serve my community and was drawn to the challenge of helping others identify their strengths and take a new path in life. I started an internship with Newaygo County and knew that was where I belonged. Where did you get your training? I started by studying criminal justice at Baker College in Muskegon, where I earned an associate degree. As part of my studies, I completed an internship with the Sheriff’s Department. Once I hired in, the county arranged for me to attend a Corrections Officer Training Academy in Ottawa County and firearms training at Kirtland Community College. They have been strong supporters for ongoing education too. I have been able to take specialty training for certification as a firearms instructor and internal investigator, and I attend the Michigan Sheriffs Association conference for continuing education with jail administrators from across the state twice a year. In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges in Law Enforcement? I think two of the biggest challenges for law enforcement right now are recruitment and retention of highly qualified officers. No matter what position you’re in, law enforcement is a high-risk, high-stress job that requires constant vigilance. You feel it and so does your family. It’s rewarding, but it also takes a lot out emotionally. Officers used to receive a pension with retirement, and it was a nice incentive for officers and their families, all of whom sacrifice for the sake of serving and protecting the community. But pensions are a thing of the past for most county departments now and it has led to some officers leaving the field for jobs that pay more financially and cost less emotionally. We try to recruit strong leaders who are well-rounded, educated in the field, and looking to make a difference in the community; but it can be hard to compete for recruits with limited budgets and benefit packages. Who were your mentors? Many officers supported my growth as a corrections leader throughout the years and am thankful for each of them; but two really stand out in my mind. Clyde Lincomfelt and Denny Hammersley. They both took the time to make a personal connection and emphasized learning the right way to do things, not just the way to get things done. They taught processes and techniques as much as they did integrity and dedication and I have always looked up to them for that. They helped shape me into the leader that I am today. What was the main thing (or two) you learned in your time on the force? Stay calm, even if it feels like everything around you is going wrong. Like I said, law enforcement is a high-risk, high-stress job. It takes an immense level of mental and emotional strength to come back, day after day, and work through the issues that often arise within a jail setting. Our corrections officers deserve a great deal of recognition for the amazing work they do, day in and day out, to serve our community. Advice for someone considering a Law Enforcement Career? Law enforcement is a rewarding field that will introduce you to amazing people. I have been lucky to spend the last eight years working under Sheriff Mendham and Undersheriff Palmiter, they are strong leaders who support their team. My advice to anyone considering a careering in law enforcement is to seek out a department that has engaged leadership and colleagues who are willing to mentor. Future Plans? I will be golfing a lot more! In all seriousness though, I’m just looking forward to settling into my new role and enjoying more time with family. Anyone you would care to thank? I would like to thank Sheriff Mendham and Undersheriff Palmiter for eight great years. I also would like to thank the many officers whom I have had the pleasure of working with over the last 17 years. Special thanks to Clyde and Denny! Anything to add? The residents of Newaygo County are served by a hard-working, dedicated Sheriff’s Department. They should be proud of the men and women who go in every day to do great things for the community in the jail and on the road. I am proud to say that I was a member of this department and I will miss working with this amazing group of professionals. Newaygo passes bond, Grant recall falls short
Newaygo The community gave a strong message of support to Newaygo Public Schools passing their bond proposal with 63% of voters supporting the school’s request. Newaygo Superintendent Ben Gilpin: “With profound gratitude and heartfelt appreciation, Newaygo Public Schools extend our sincerest thanks to the voters who recognized the importance of investing in the education and well-being of our students. This resounding endorsement of our vision reaffirms our collective commitment to providing exceptional learning environments and opportunities for generations to come. “The passing of this bond is a testament to the belief that every child deserves access to a high-quality education, regardless of their background or circumstances. “This would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of countless individuals who dedicated their time, energy, and resources to advocating for Newaygo Public Schools. From parents and teachers to community leaders and volunteers, each played an invaluable role. “As we embark on this journey to enhance and modernize our facilities, we do so with a profound sense of responsibility and stewardship. Every dollar entrusted to us will be invested wisely, ensuring that our schools remain safe, innovative, and equipped to meet the evolving needs of our students and staff. “Newaygo Public Schools pledge to remain transparent every step of the way. A few of the major projects include: HS and MS roof, Mechanical and Electrical infrastructure, HVAC systems, Safety and Security enhancements, HS track, HS gymnasium floor, flexible furniture, and technology upgrades. “In closing, Newaygo Public Schools once again expresses our deepest gratitude to the voters for their overwhelming support and confidence in our mission. With your continued partnership, we look forward to shaping a brighter future for our students, our schools, and our community.” Grant In a contentious race that included a letter to the community from a sitting board member supporting the recall candidates and a homophobic mailing put out by advocates for the incumbents the current board members kept their seats by a slim margin. This was an election that significantly divided the county’s gateway city with scathing social media postings, heated school board meetings and deep-seated resentments coming to the surface throughout the district and beyond. With 29% of voters going to the polls, incumbents Richard Vance (53%) and Rachal Gort (54%) outpolled their challengers Lindsay Mahlich and Mindy Conley. Vance and Gort will be up for reelection again in November. The next trip to the polls will be the August 7th primary election with several contested races for county seats Kelly Pangburn, the owner and broker of Pangburn Properties, Inc. (real estate brokerage) of Grant, MI, officially declared her candidacy for the position of Register of Deeds for Newaygo County. Kelly Pangburn will be a candidate for the Republican nomination in the August 6th primary. "I am excited to announce my candidacy today for the Register of Deeds." said Pangburn. "If elected, it would be my greatest honor to serve the residents of Newaygo County. I pledge to diligently safeguard our public records against cybercrime, improve outdated technology, lower fees to the consumer where possible, work tirelessly to protect our property rights, and enhance the Property Fraud Alert system. I will utilize best practices and build trust by providing high quality services with professionalism and accountability." Ms. Pangburn brings a wealth of experience to her candidacy with a career approaching nearly thirty years in the real estate industry. She has been devoted to giving her clients expert advice and guidance in their real estate transactions. She has helped her clients through foreclosures and short sales during the recession, as well as being a broker for HUD (Housing and Urban Development). Kelly has also stayed abreast of new laws governing the real estate industry. She has fostered trust and accountability to the agents within her firm. She has served on the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) for the City of Grant as well as committees within the Greater Regional Alliance of REALTORS® (GRAR). Ms. Pangburn's action plan for the Register of Deeds includes the implementation of a new, user friendly, cell phone compatible document search software aimed at lowering document search fees to the consumer comparable to fees charged by neighboring counties. She also intends to enhance the Property Fraud Alert system by adding address fields, property identification number (PIN) fields and a texting alert feature. To increase fraud protection, Kelly also intends to collaborate with neighboring county Registers, legislators, and technology providers to create a new Property Fraud Alert system wherein property owners, lenders, and title companies would all be alerted to potential fraud prior to the recording of fraudulent documents. "Safeguarding our most valuable assets is paramount." she stated. Additionally, she intends to spearhead an initiative to end the purchase of lands in Newaygo County by foreigners and foreign entities, along with an initiative to protect property rights. "I believe in protecting our property rights and will spearhead an initiative, in conjunction with community officials, to construct ordinance language to protect those rights." she added. As a forty-five-year resident of the Grant Community and a graduate of Grant High School, her roots go deep. Her long career as a real estate broker and business owner, having managed upwards of fifteen real estate agents, has provided her with the acumen and expertise necessary to exceed in her role as your next Register of Deeds. "I am committed to serving the residents of Newaygo County and will honor my oath with the utmost integrity, accountability, and dedication." Ms. Pangburn stated. "I would be humbled to be the next Register of Deeds for the residents of Newaygo County." Animal Shelter hires Kyle Gilbert as Next Executive Director
Bellwether Harbor Animal Shelter has named Kyle Gilbert as its first ever paid Executive Director to lead the organization, ensuring it will continue to grow and serve the community for years to come. Gilbert will focus not only on the shelter’s day-to-day operations but marketing, relationship building, and fundraising that will continue the mission of protecting and nurturing abandoned, abused, and neglected homeless animals, and educating the people looking to adopt our dogs and cats for their forever homes. Gilbert brings over eight years of experience in public relations, marketing, communications, and leadership to this role. Previously, he has served as the Engagement Manager at Galapagos Marketing and the Director of Communications and Public Relations for Forest Hills Public Schools. “We are excited to welcome Kyle,” said Natacha Valmont, Board Chair. “He brings a collaborative leadership style and a strong focus on relationship building and marketing. He has a great vision for what is next for Bellwether Harbor Animal Shelter.” As was announced last fall, current Executive Director and Founder, Dani Merrill, has decided to retire but remained in her role while the Board of Directors lead the search to find her replacement. Merrill’s retirement date is yet to be set as she will continue to support the Shelter to help onboard and transition the leadership role. “I have realized it is time for me to step back and let this amazing organization grow and expand to its best capabilities. Bellwether is my gift to our community,” shared Merrill. “Although it will be bittersweet to retire from the Shelter, I am excited for what Kyle will bring to this position and the future of Bellwether.” Gilbert will officially begin his role on May 13. "I'm truly honored to step into the role of Executive Director at Bellwether, where I can bring my passion for communications and animal advocacy together for the community. As we work together to deepen the human-animal bond, I'm excited for the opportunities we'll create to make a lasting, positive difference in the lives of both pets and people."
The Newaygo County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced that Karl and Theresa Robart, of Garfield Township, were both arraigned in the 78th District Court. Each of them is charged with one count of Firearms – Safe Storage Violation – Minor Present and Inflicted Death to Another, a felony punishable by 15 years and/or $10,000. Each case is set for a probable cause conference on May 16, 2024, at 9:30 am. Each case is set for a preliminary examination on May 23, 2024, at 1:30 pm. All hearings are scheduled to be held at the 78th District Court in White Cloud, Michigan. A defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Anyone with information regarding this ongoing investigation is asked to please contact the Michigan State Police at 231-873-2171. Newaygo County Register of Deeds Stewart Sanders announced on Tuesday April 2, that he will seek re-election as Register of Deeds for a third term. “It has been an honor serving as Register of Deeds for the past 10 years,” Sanders said, “and I am excited about the opportunity to continue serving in this role. Since my appointment in 2014, we have worked hard at continuing to pursue best practices for recording, document security, and preservation.” Sanders will again be a candidate for the Republican nomination in the August primary. “I am extremely proud of the advancements we have made using new technologies to help save time and money for our constituents,” said Sanders. “In addition to these advancements we have introduced our Property Fraud Alert Service to help notify constituents of any activity regarding their properties.” “If re-elected,” he said, “I will continue to pursue best practices regarding the protection and integrity of our database involving the public record. With the rise of cybercrimes, it is critically important to stay informed of the resources necessary to secure the County’s record. In addition, I will continue to build positive relationships throughout the County to build trust by providing the best possible customer service.” Stewart Sanders is a graduate of White Cloud High School, Ferris State College with a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics, and Central Michigan University with a Master of Arts degree in administration. Sanders taught in Newaygo for 33 years and Baker College for 21 years. He also coached track and field and cross-country in Newaygo while also coaching track in Fremont. Sanders was appointed to the position of Register of Deeds in June of 2014 after the retirement of Linda Landheer. During the time he has been in office, Register Sanders has worked hard to build on the work of previous office holders. Mr. Sanders has been active in many community activities such as serving on the White Cloud Rotary, Newaygo County United Way Committee, and being a committee member of the Gerber Scholarship. Stewart continues to stay active in professional organizations such as the Michigan Association of Registers of Deeds (MARD), serving as President in 2020 and being named Register of the Year for 2020. Sanders is also the Legislative Co-Chair for MARD. He is a member of the United County Officers Association of Michigan and is a Certified County Officer (CCO) and served as President from 2021 to 2023. These organizations provide necessary educational opportunities to stay informed of current resources that pertain to County Elected Officials. Sanders indicated that he is” grateful” for the support and trust of the residents of Newaygo County and hopes to continue working with all constituents and stakeholders. Hesperia's Vida Weaver Park gets a new addition
Hesperia, MI [APRIL 15, 2024] - The Village of Hesperia is thrilled to celebrate the groundbreaking for the newest addition to Vida Weaver Park, a state-of-the-art pavilion set to enhance the community's outdoor experience. The new pavilion, sparked by Hesperia Beautification, is made possible through funding from the Oceana County ARPA committee, MEDC Revitalization and Placemaking 2.0 Grant Program via The Right Place’s regional grant award, Community Foundation for Oceana County, Village of Hesperia and other community stakeholders This park enhancement will serve as a focal point for gatherings, events, and leisure activities, fostering a sense of community and belonging on the banks of the White River. The Village of Hesperia is deeply grateful to the funders whose support has made this project a reality. Their commitment to enhancing the quality of life in Hesperia is commendable, and we look forward to the positive impact the pavilion will have on our community. For more information about the groundbreaking ceremony or the Vida Weaver Park Pavilion project, please contact the Village of Hesperia at 231.854.6205 Vida Weaver Park is a beloved community space in Hesperia, known for its access to the White River, picturesque setting and convenient location. The addition of the new pavilion underscores the village’s dedication to providing accessible and inviting outdoor spaces for residents of all ages to enjoy. At their annual Heroes Celebration, United Way of the Lakeshore awarded the CBD Store of Michigan the Community Builder Award. Community Builders support United Way of the Lakeshore through workplace campaigns, volunteering, and much more. CBD Store of Michigan in Fremont was recognized for always willing to step up when needed. Beyond collecting items for drives like the Baby Product Drive, Hygen Drive, Food Drives, Toys for Tots and many more, store owner Rod Glupker is always there to volunteer in community projects. Rod has helped build playgrounds in the community, assisted with painting and clean up projects as well as providing help for programs such as Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Receiving the Community Builder Award recognizes CBD Store of Michigan’s commitment to the community it serves Glupker is a Board Member on the Fremont Area Chamber of Commerce and the United Way of the Lakeshore-Newaygo County, He is als a member of the Downtown Development Authority, the River Country Chamber of Commerce, the Hesperia Chamber of Commerce, and the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce. “I want to thank United Way of the Lakeshore for this honor,” said Glupker. “I love our community and only want to make it a great place to live and work for all.” Lindsey Mahlich and Mindy Conley are challenging current board members Rachal Gort and Richard Vance in a recall election for the two seats on the Grant Public School Board. We reached out to the candidates asking them to participate in answering a series of questions for the community. Each agreed to participate, however despite numerous attempts to get some type of acknowledgement from Ms Gort since we distributed the questions more than a week ago, we regrettably have not heard from her. Thus, here are the responses from Ms. Conley Ms. Mahlich and Mr. Vance. And please remember to exercise your right to vote on May 7th. -N3 Why are you the best candidate for the school board position? Ms. Mahlich: My greatest strengths are listening, learning, and advocating for those who need it most. I am willing to sit down with all parties to listen and understand their thoughts/ideas before I make a decision that impacts our students and staff. I am willing to advocate for and push our needs at a state and federal level to ensure our voice is heard. I am optimistic even in times of trial. I try to focus on what we can do to achieve our goals rather than what we cannot. Part of my optimism includes the understanding that we will hit tough times and have to have difficult conversations, and it is best to face them head-on and work through them immediately rather than avoid them. Mr Vance: I am an honest candidate for the Grant BOE because of my leadership experiences in business management, private camp programs, non-profit organizations and having a life coach to achieve better as a husband and person. Ms. Conley: I have always worked as part of a team, and more often than not found myself leading that team. I have worked in management roles in a non-profit and currently work for a for-profit company. I have experience in policy development, and have also developed and revised various processes to reduce redundancy and improve employee experiences and project outcomes. I have been a volunteer in my kids’ classrooms, been a Girl Scout co-leader, been a coach, referee, and board/area staff member for AYSO. All of these experiences have taught me how to communicate effectively and work well with others, and I have developed a passion for providing educational and recreational opportunities for the children of this community. I believe I would be a great asset to the board and the school district. What is your own experience with public education? Mr. Vance: My experience in public education is 3-fold: 1.) I was reared in a public school system and performed in multiple sports, president of student council, performed in theatre and was a member of the Honor Society, 2.) One of our children attended a public school, 3.) I have been a H.S. diving coach and I am involved with the Michigan Association of School Boards as part of the By-Laws and Resolution Committee. Ms. Conley: I attended public school K-12 and I also attended the University of Michigan. The school district I grew up in is much bigger than Grant, and was also a very good public school with a lot of options to meet different student needs. I have been surrounded by public school teachers my whole life as well, most notably my mom as a special education teacher and my husband who teaches at Grant High School. I have been surrounded by public school issues for most of my life, even when I have not been a student. Public schools are at the very heart of every community, and we need to support them. Ms. Mahlich: I graduated from Grant High School and attended Michigan State University to study animal science, then Baker College for business. Recently, my son graduated from GHS and is pursuing a career in welding, thanks to his training from the career tech center. I have a daughter who is a freshman and another son and daughter who will start their academic careers as kindergarteners in the fall. Prior to the recall, I attended school board meetings, listening and learning, to help prepare myself for an opportunity on the board. I have attended several free training courses from MASB on topics like the Open Meetings Act and school budgeting. I read and listen to podcasts on issues impacting our school system. I also have met with administrators and the superintendent to share ideas on strategic planning and moving the district forward. What do you see as your primary responsibilities as a board member? Ms. Conley: My primary responsibility will be to work with the other board members in setting policy for our district, and guiding and supporting our superintendent as he works with our district administrators and teachers to deliver a quality education for our students. I also see it as my job to be an advocate for all our students in the district, and to advocate for the district itself and our community too. Ms. Mahlich: My primary responsibility as a school board member is to provide governance and leadership within the school district. I will ensure we stay aligned with the strategic plan and challenge the district to always find that higher grade of excellence. I will support strategies that help us attract and retain the best staff to support our students. Mr. Vance: The BOE responsibilities are to provide oversight in planning, policy conformity, financial management, and academic/legal issues as part of the community citizens. What do you see as the strengths of the District? Ms. Mahlich: We have some fantastic staff and administrators who can help us move forward. My children are better people thanks to the mentorship and interactions with GPS staff, coaches, and community members. We can take the strength and knowledge of our community and expand our relationships even more by clearly communicating with the community the district's progress and what we need their help and support with. Mr. Vance: The strengths of the GPS District are as follows: 1. Hard working parents, 2. Good facilities, 3. Teachers that care about students, 4. Students that desire to excel, 5. Businesses that take an interest in the District. Ms. Conley: For a small district, we really have a lot of opportunities and resources available for our students. The Spanish Immersion program is an incredible opportunity for our students to become fluent in another language and to grow up with a wider view of the world. Both my kids went through this program and have really benefited from it. We also have some great options for high school students with the Early College, Dual Enrollment, and Career-Tech Center programs. The student population of my high school was about the size of our entire district, and we didn’t have any of those options when I was in school. We also have some really great options for students to see more of the world than just West Michigan with the optional trips that are offered for 8th-12th grades. What do you see as the biggest challenges? Mr. Vance: The biggest challenges for the District are as follows: 1.) Continue to re-organized and to fully function within the parliamentary procedures, 2.) Review all policies and bring them up to date, 3.) Assist the administration to get a transparent understanding of the financial position of the district Budget. Ms. Conley: I think our biggest challenge is funding. We desperately need to develop more secure sources of long-term funding. Grant funds are helpful, and can provide funds for a variety of programs, but those programs can only go so far when our buildings are in dire need of repair and upgrades. We need to make some big investments in our schools. The school district is the heart of Grant, and we cannot let it flounder. We’re also facing a huge challenge right now in terms of community perception and discord—so much division has happened over the last year and a half, and we need to find a way to come back together for our kids. The opportunities and education we offer them is of the utmost importance, and we need to get back to focusing on that. Ms. Mahlich: Some of the challenges we are facing right now include staff/administration burnout, funding stabilization, and a decline in student enrollment. With an uncertain/polarizing social climate, we all need to focus on keeping unrest out of the schools and on academic achievement and student and staff development. What is your vision for GPS? Ms. Conley: My vision for our district is to provide a quality education and experiences that prepare our students to follow whatever path they choose to take in life. Our students should be able to find a life path they love, whether it is in skilled trades, pursuing a college education, or something else entirely. It is our job to provide them the tools they’ll need to navigate life as an adult and give them the confidence to try new things. Ms. Mahlich: I envision GPS being focused on excellence and helping build the leaders of tomorrow. I want us to be a district where all students are treated equally in a safe, caring environment, but we recognize and celebrate students on their individual achievements. Mr. Vance: My vision for the GPS District is to see a reverse of the 20-year attendance decline that has resulted in almost 1,000 less students. As a result, that is approximately a 10-million-dollar budget cut in today’s state funding. Can you tell about a time you made a decision that turned out to be the wrong way to go and how you handled it? Ms. Mahlich: I have served on a board of education at a local private school. As a board, we wanted to look at and evaluate new math curriculum, so we went to the administrator to start that process. The administrator made a recommendation, and I did not do my due diligence to fully understand how the new curriculum would impact our teachers and their ability to teach. I was slow to acknowledge the issue and address it immediately, which caused a delay in getting the right solution in place for the math curriculum. To ensure this doesn't happen again before making decisions, I always confirm the evaluation process is clearly defined so we can evaluate and pivot if needed. Mr. Vance: Handling personal and business wrong decisions along with conflict resolution go together. I continue to learn that wise counsel come from wise people, not necessarily someone on social media. It is critical to listen to all sides, know what and why the decision is right or wrong, be patient and understanding, and most of all, be forgiving with a soft answer. Ms. Conley: I really try to gather all the pertinent information at the start of a project or situation and consider the long-term outcomes before choosing a path to follow. This has helped me to make big decisions without a detrimental outcome. I definitely have made mistakes, but they haven’t been mistakes with significantly bad results. There have been projects that I’ve started from the wrong approach or where I missed some key information, but once I figured that out, I did what I could to correct it by taking responsibility for the error I made and offering a solution (or multiple solutions) for it. I am definitely a “fix-it” kind of person, so once I recognize a problem I move on to finding a solution rather than dwelling on the mistake. Describe your experience with conflict resolution and consensus building. Mr. Vance: (see previous response) Ms. Conley: I’m a museum exhibit designer, and that doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s never just me working on a project—there is input from community/client stakeholders, there is budget and content input from the institution itself, there are differences in opinion on aesthetic design choices, and sometimes there is conflict in topic choice or tone in presenting different sides of a story. As the team leader I am often the one handling those conflicts and trying to mediate a solution between everyone else on the team. I typically work on leading the team through conversations at various stages of the process so that we come to some sort of consensus at each step—this helps reduce the need to backtrack later because we worked together to make sure everyone was in relative agreement at each stage before moving on. We work to identify end goals before we start this process to be sure we’re going in the right direction every step of the way. I am currently working on a project that has been nearly a year in planning already, but new funding sources have opened up that could help get the project completed sooner than expected, so we’re reworking our plans to not only hold on to the original end goals, but to incorporate some new focus spots to help meet the funding requirements. Sure, it’s going to extend the timeline, but following the proper processes and putting the work in up front will ultimately have a better long-term result. Ms. Mahlich: Conflict resolution and consensus building have been daily throughout my twenty-plus years in technology. In my current role, in customer experience and quality, I work with customers where my organization has failed to deliver on its commitment or a major issue has transpired. I bring all stakeholders to the table to get them to agree on priorities and build out a success plan, then ensure the success plan is executed and we deliver on our commitments. What change would you like to see in our schools? Ms. Conley: I would really like to see the Spanish Immersion program expand. This was a goal that was set when the program first started, back when my oldest started school in 2012, but is only just now really starting to happen with expanding into 5th grade. I’d like to see it eventually expand into the high school too. I’ve heard a lot about bullying being an issue in our schools over the last few years. I know it’s not a new phenomenon, nor is it one that is easy to address, but I’d like to work on building a future for our district where everyone is accepted and where we can find value in our differences. Ms. Mahlich: Before I get behind any changes, I would love to get ideas from our students on what they want to see changed. Before you make a change, you need to understand the goal/results you are trying to achieve. This logic can be used for simple or advanced issues. For example, I want GPS to be a state leader in reading literacy. What if we asked the administrators to do a brainstorming session with all of the third graders and see what ideas they have to get kids to read more books and make it a fun competition? The class with an idea that gets implemented wins an ice cream party. The idea could be as simple as ensuring we have more copies of a specific type of book. Then, as board members, we can support the administration and staff to make it happen. Change happens with small incremental changes we can control. If we want to know how to improve things, we must understand what students, families, and staff believe will make it better. The process in more complicated scenarios must include evidence. For example, if the administration comes to the board and says the only way to improve reading scores is to purchase this specific curriculum, I would want more details from their professional perspective and the evidence that may exist to back their position. Mr. Vance: (No answer provided) What was your favorite book in high school? Ms. Mahlich: I am an avid reader, thanks to many great ELA teachers laying a solid foundation for me in my years at Grant. In high school, my ag-science teacher at the time mentioned The Jungle by Upton Sinclar during a discussion about meat processing, and I was intrigued. Although I am trying to remember how I found my first copy of the book, the book taught me so much about the realities of the world and the importance of advocating and standing up for what is right. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn some of the brutal history of our food system and industrialization on the backs of immigrants. This book honestly made an impact on my life. Mr. Vance: My favorite books in High School were: My earth science textbook, my special read -Rommel in North Africa and the greatest book ever, The Bible. Ms. Conley: I read a lot of Stephen King books back then, and The Talisman was one of my favorites, though I fell in love with The Gunslinger series in college. I also happened to like reading Shakespeare when that came up in my high school English classes, so much so that I actually chose to take a Shakespeare literature class in college. And finally the ‘Elephant in the Room’ question: There is obviously a lot of division in the community since the health center controversy began. What do you plan on doing going forward to help heal this divide? Mr. Vance: The “elephant in the room” that you are referring to, began prior to my term on the BOE. That elephant got in the room through unnecessary back doors left open. With that said, I will continue to promote Tradition in Curriculum Standards and Community Values, Truth in Student needs and Parental Rights, and Trustworthiness in Financial Matters and Administrative Functions. Ms. Conley: I want to bring the focus of the school board back to education. The health center is a valuable resource for our students and our community, but it shouldn’t be the primary focus of our school board. I want to help bring our community back to having conversations rather than one-sided arguments and ultimatums, so that we can all get back on track. Transparency and open communication are key—I feel the community is very suspicious of the school board right now because it seems like they just keep choosing to close or remove things that they don’t like, rather than putting in the effort to improve them to something we can all be proud about. As a manager I have always made an effort to support my staff and find ways to help them learn and improve. Our school board needs to do the same thing here: instead of pushing people or support services out, we need to find ways to help build them into the best providers for our students. We can do better and we can be better if we just start talking to each other and include more voices in the conversation. Ms. Mahlich: We can and will recover from the turmoil our community has faced. As a board member, I want to understand the ideas and concerns of both the community and the administration on any topic, and I am willing to share why I make any decision. Our district recently faced many issues that could have been minimized with communication and transparency about why decisions are made. N3- Thank you to the candidates who particiated in sharing their thoughts with the communuty. Once again, May 7th is election day for the school board. Choose wisely. By Chadwick Walenga, WCCL Youth Services Photos by Jennifer Balcom On Tuesday, April 16, 2024, the halls of the Michigan State Capitol were abuzz with the annual Library Advocacy Day, bringing together a confluence of librarians, literacy advocates, and legislators. The event served as a pivotal forum for deliberating on critical legislative and funding initiatives that are vital to the progression and sustenance of libraries across the state. Despite the absence of Representative Joseph Fox, the dialogues were enriched by the presence of forward-thinking participants, including Senator Outman. His contributions went beyond mere storytelling; his relationships with libraries throughout his district were a clear indicator of what collaborative efforts between state legislators and local libraries could potentially achieve. Senator Outman’s narratives were not only a recount of past achievements but also a call to action for future collaborative endeavors aimed at enhancing community resources and educational infrastructure. In an innovative twist to conventional advocacy methods, representatives from the White Cloud Community Library presented their key points through a Dr. Seuss-style narrative to the staff of Representative Fox. This creative approach underscored the library's mission in an engaging and memorable manner, blending literary charm with serious advocacy, thereby resonating deeply with the event’s progressive ethos.
Additionally, the exhibition of diverse bookmobiles stood out, symbolizing a strategic pivot toward making library services more accessible, especially to underserved communities. These mobile libraries are critical in democratizing access to information and resources. White Cloud Community Library's forthcoming introduction of pop-up libraries this summer, which have been generously sponsored by Houseman's Foods, is anticipated to further diminish the barriers to access, illustrating a proactive approach to community service and engagement. Library Advocacy Day underscored a compelling theme: the transformative power of collective endeavor. Discussions reinforced the notion that libraries are not merely repositories of books but are vital agents of community education, safety, and engagement. The drive and commitment exhibited by the day’s participants, highlighted the indispensable role of libraries in fostering educated, informed, and connected communities. The continued advocacy for adequate funding and supportive legislation is recognized not only as necessary but as essential for the sustained impact and growth of libraries as cornerstones of future community development. Find out what the Michigan High Speed Internet Office says you have vs. what you actually have
The Michigan High Speed Internet Office has released a new map of reported broadband service for the state and is accepting challenges to the data shown on the maps during this brief challenge period. Once challenges are received, service providers will have the opportunity for rebuttal. In the end, the final decisions will be used to prioritize the funding and timing of broadband expansion using Michigan’s Broadband Expansion and Deployment dollars. The Newaygo County Economic Development Partnership is encouraging all Newaygo County residents and businesses to confirm or challenge their access to high-speed internet by visiting merit.edu/challenge by April 23, 2024. Local units of government have also been encouraged to review the area of the map representing their community in order to make direct challenges to the Michigan High Speed Internet Office through a separate link. Dear Newaygo County Residents, It is my pleasure to announce my candidacy for re-election as your Sheriff. It has been an honor serving as your Sheriff for the past two terms, and I am excited about the opportunity to continue the progress we have made together. Over the past years, we have faced many challenges, from increasing demands on our budget to ensuring the safety and security of our community. Despite these challenges, I am proud of what we have achieved together. We have increased our road patrol coverage, expanded our Detective Bureau, and improved our ability to respond to emergencies. However, our work is not done. We still face challenges such as employee turnover, a nationwide trend, and increasing budget demands. If re-elected, I will be committed to addressing these challenges head-on. I will work tirelessly to support our deputies and staff, ensure that we have the resources needed to keep our community safe, and continue to build trust and partnership with you, the residents of Newaygo County. I am incredibly grateful for the support and trust you have placed in me, and I humbly ask for your vote once again. Together, we can continue to make Newaygo County a safe and vibrant place to live, work, and raise a family. Thank you, and I look forward to continuing to serve as your Sheriff. Sincerely, Bob Mendham, Sheriff Newaygo County Notice of Vacancies The Newaygo County RESA is seeking applications for a Special Education Supervisor for the 2024-25 school year. Candidates must have a Master’s degree (minimum), a Michigan Department of Education teaching certificate with endorsements in special education, and the ability to obtain Michigan Department of Education approval as a Special Education Supervisor. Other desired qualifications and position details are available at www.ncresa.org under Employment. This position will remain open until filled. It is the policy of the Newaygo County RESA that no person shall, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, age, height, weight, marital status or other trait or characteristic protected by federal or state employment discrimination statutes, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination during programs, activities, and employment. PUBLIC NOTICE: The Family Health Care White Cloud Child and Adolescent Health Center Advisory Council will meet on Monday, April 8, 2024, from noon to 1 p.m. at the Child and Adolescent Health Center conference room at 555 E. Wilcox Ave. The meeting is open to the public and lunch will be provided. For more information, please call (231) 689-3268. Officers recognized for length of service, deputies of the year
Photos by Misty Ingersoll Last Wednesday the County Board of Commissioners meeting room was undoubtedly the safest place to be as it was filled with law enforcement and other public safety personnel from around the area who packed the room along with former employees and co-workers. To begin with Sheriff Bob Mendham and Lieutenant John Borgman handed out pins commemorating years of service. Deputies Tyler Selby, Trevor Sherman, Clint Hicks, Rachael Botello, Dave Kalinowski, Heather Kelly, Pat Fetterly, Korey Sitzema, Brian Van Singel, and Zac Cantu have served for 5 years while Dylan Wimmer was recognized for 10 years and Deputy Pat Green topped the group having reached 20 years with the department. Retiring deputy Phil Green received an award for his 25 years. Deputy Jonathon Vanderwall and Sergeant Dustin Runions were named Deputies of the Year. Following the awards from the Sheriff’s Office two of the county’s best were honored by the Board. Central Dispatch Director Phil Smalligan started as a part time dispatcher 22 years ago before quickly being promoted to full time. In 2020 stepped into the leadership role at Central Dispatch providing vision and leadership to the department. Phil Green has served a quarter of a century with the Sheriffs OfficeWhile performing a number of duties in his career Phil is perhaps best known for being the K9 officer partnering with Turbo and Remi the worthy canine collaborators who served many years alongside Green. The former deputy spoke to the crowd as he thanked the many friends, colleagues, and mentors he has encountered in his years of service to the NCSO. In other business the Board approved four to the Newaygo County Mental Health Board, Kathy Broome, Helen Taube and Ken DeLaat were reappointed while Lori Schultz was appointed to fill a vacancy. The Board also approved a three year contract with Republic Services for Household Hazardous Waste events. This year's Household Hazardous Waste Day is Saturday May 18th and will once again be held at the Newaygo County Road Commission. Corewell Health opens new addiction clinics in Ludington and Fremont
The Corewell Health Dependent Drug Stewardship Program continues to address increases in overdose rates across the state of Michigan. There has been a concerning trend related to increases of drug overdose emergency department visits and EMS responses to drug overdoses in the Ludington and Fremont communities. While these increases are demonstrated in other communities as well, partnerships with the emergency departments in Ludington and Gerber have allowed Corewell Health to quickly increase the addiction medicine footprint to address those needs. As a result, Corewell Health will be opening addiction medicine clinics at the Ludington Visiting Specialty site on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, and at the Gerber Visiting Specialty location on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. We caught up with Dr. Colleen Lane, medical director for Corewell Health’s addiction medicine program, posed a few questions. If I understand correctly the clinics will be primarily providing Medication Assisted Treatment. What are the main benefits of MAT? The Addiction Clinic at Corewell Health can treat many different types of substance use disorders. This includes any person who is living with opioid use, alcohol use, stimulant use or a combination of multiple different substances being used at the same time. Our addiction medicine specialists have expertise in managing medications that help treat people who are struggling with symptoms of withdrawal or cravings from certain substances. We know that medications for opioid use disorder saves lives. It helps prevent accidental overdose deaths and helps people improve their overall quality of life. We know that the medications that we use to treat alcohol use disorders can decrease use of alcohol or episodes of binge drinking and help lead to an overall improvement of mental and physical health. There is access for walk-ins to the clinic. Any requirements? Are patients required to be active in a recovery program? Our walk-in clinic is for anyone new to our clinic, or anyone who has been out of care for more than 6 months. It is meant to be low barrier and easy to access. The only requirement is that you are someone wanting to learn about your options for changing your relationship with a substance that is affecting your life, health, or relationships. There is no requirement for you to be in a recovery program if you participate. Will the clinics offer counseling or will this be referred to other programs? We will offer connections to counseling, peer recovery groups and other community resources if that is something that is helpful as a part of a person’s recovery process. However, this is not a requirement to be seen by our medical provider team and discuss medications. Are Substance Use Disorder agencies in Mason County and Newaygo County on board? We have been introducing ourselves and talking to the other substance use disorder agencies in Mason and Newaygo Counties. As we come into the area, we are hoping to add more choices for people who are looking for substance use treatment options. The clinics are looking to be open at all the regionals in addition to downtown. Is this initiative tied into opioid settlement dollars? This is not connected to the opioid settlement dollars. This expansion is something that Corewell Health invested in based on the need in the community. What is the hope attached to this (much needed) strategy? We hope this will make it easier for people to access addiction care closer to home. And to reduce stigma around the treatment of substance use disorders. By expanding access to addiction medicine specialty care we will be saving the lives of our friends, family and neighbors. Here’s the skinny: Corewell Health Addiction Clinic – Ludington 7 Atkinson Drive, Suite 302 Ludington, MI 49431 Corewell Health Addiction Clinic – Fremont 230 W. Oak St. Freemont, MI 49412 Both locations will be open from 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. and will have provider access to see immediate same day walk-ins. If walk-in access is needed on another day during the week, the clinic also offers an urgent referral line (616-391-6120 - press 1) that can be accessed to engage a patient with same day telehealth addiction medicine access. City one of 10 finalists for Consumers Energy Foundation competition
Since 2019 the Consumers Energy Foundation has been giving a boost to our small towns and communities through their Put Your Town On The Map Competition. Last week the Foundation announced the top 10 finalists which will provide $50,000 in grant funding for three projects to help small communities in Michigan grow and thrive. And White Cloud scored an invitation to the final pitch. The finalists are: · Au Gres (Arenac County) for Kinder Platz Park “old fashion” transformation · Bellaire (Antrim County) for a community year-round garden project · Coopersville (Ottawa County) for a community outdoor fitness park · Dimondale (Eaton County) for a village history art mural · Imlay City (Lapeer County) for a public interactive art and audio display · Napoleon (Jackson County) for a heritage trail project · Rogers City (Presque Isle County) for a public art sculpture · Saranac (Ionia County) for a covered community concert pavilion · St. Johns (Clinton County) for community artistic benches · White Cloud (Newaygo County) for downtown planter boxes/benches Andrew Stafford, who has served as a Community Economic Development Association of Michigan Fellow for the city, was credited by White Cloud City Manager April Storms for heading up this project. N3 caught up with him for a few questions. Can you tell us a little bit about the competition? The ‘Put Your Town on the Map’ pitch competition is funded by the Consumers Energy Foundation and is meant to support big ideas in rural communities across Michigan. To enter the competition, communities submit a brief overview of their ideas. From these brief overviews, ten communities are selected to give a full presentation about their project. These presentations will be given at the Small Town & Rural Development Conference on April 29th at 1:00 p.m. in front of a panel of judges. The top three finalists will receive funding for their ideas; with 1st place receiving $25,000, 2nd place receiving $15,000, and 3rd place receiving $10,000. The project is for benches and planters downtown. How was this decision made and what’s the vision for the initiative? The decision to pitch planters with built-in benches was made because of White Cloud recently finishing Michigan State University’s Sustainable Built Environment Initiative. This program allowed MSU graduate students and professors to come into White Cloud and create design recommendations for redoing White Cloud’s downtown streetscape. While a comprehensive final report was given to the city, the planters with built-in benches were identified as an actionable step that could be pursued. The vision for the initiative is to use the project as a kick-off for implementing other design recommendations that were outlined in MSU’s final report. The city seems to be going through a bit of a renaissance with new housing, the facade improvements, the EGLE drinking water grant and the EGLE dam grant. Any more developments on the horizon? Is there a wish list? The city is very excited about several potential developments that are on the horizon. Currently, we are eagerly waiting to hear about a grant opportunity that would support renovations in Smith Park. These renovations would give more functionality and amenities to Smith Park. Additionally, we are discussing with MDOT adding on-street parking to specific sections of M-37. On-Street parking would significantly help the local businesses that are found on M-37. Finally, we are working on getting new wayfinding signs by the end of the coming summer. These projects will continue to add to the current momentum the city has gained over the last 2 years. You came to the city on a 15-month Fellowship and have been assisting the city for about a year, I believe. When is your term up and what would you like to see happen before you depart? My term will finish in August. Before I leave the City of White Cloud, I would like to see several projects come to fruition. Specifically, I want to see new wayfinding signs in White Cloud and the construction phase of the façade improvement program come to a close. I have put a lot of work into both projects, so I am particularly passionate about seeing these projects come to completion. Well done Andrew and well done White Cloud. The city is the first Newaygo County town to be chosen to deliver a pitch to the generosity of the Consumers Energy Foundation. And with many of us at an advanced age being wildly in favor of benches, one hopes to see our beloved county seat bringing the heater to the competition. Judge Drake honored at BOC meeting
The Newaygo County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution recognizing the Honorable H. Kevin Drake who has served as the 78th District Court Judge for the past 29+ years. Judge Drake is retiring effective March 31.Board Chair Bryan Kolk read the resolution which in part recognized his years spent “adjudicating thousands of cases with insight, integrity and fairness.” The many in attendance to honor the retiring judge delivered a standing ovation whennthe resolution was passed. Current Newaygo County Prosecutor Ellsworth Stay will follow Judge Drake to the bench. His partial term begins April 1 2024 and ends January 1st 2025. In other business the Board heard from candidates for the Mental Health Board and heard a report from Erin Kuhn Executive Director of WMSRDC, the federal and state designated regional planning and development agency for our region. Walleye will be collected starting as early as the week of March 18 and concluding by April 12. The DNR plans to collect approximately 23 million walleye eggs from the Muskegon River this year, which will result in fry (fish that have just hatched) for transfer to rearing ponds and direct fry plants throughout the Lower Peninsula. Photo courtesy Michigan DNR DNR collecting walleye eggs on Muskegon River this spring
Muskegon River anglers should be on the lookout for Michigan Department of Natural Resources personnel collecting walleye eggs below Croton Dam this spring. Collections with electrofishing boats will start as early as the week of March 18 and conclude by April 12. Anglers who wish to avoid the walleye collection activities should fish downstream. The DNR asks anglers to exhibit caution when fishing near the electrofishing boats. For angler safety during the electrofishing work, those wading will be asked to exit the water when boats approach. The DNR plans to collect approximately 23 million walleye eggs from the Muskegon River this year, which will result in fry (fish that have just hatched) for transfer to rearing ponds and direct fry plants throughout the Lower Peninsula. Walleye fry transferred to ponds will be raised to fingerling size (approximately 1.5 to 2.5 inches) and stocked in late spring or early summer in lakes and rivers throughout the state. Lake Michigan and many inland lake walleye populations in the Lower Peninsula depend on the fingerlings produced from Muskegon River eggs. Historically, the number of walleye in the spawning run has been estimated to be between 40,000 and 50,000 fish. The DNR crews will strip milt (sperm) and eggs from approximately 350 adult fish, which will be returned to the river – except for 60, which will be sent to Michigan State University for fish health testing. "This adult population consists of mostly stocked fish," said Ed Pearce, DNR fisheries technician supervisor who coordinates the egg take. "The Muskegon River has the largest run of walleye in the Lake Michigan watershed south of Green Bay, and the walleyes contribute to populations in other areas. For example, based on angler tag returns, walleye from the Muskegon River have been recaptured in Lake Macatawa, Spring Lake, Manistee Lake and Port Sheldon Lake, as well as the Grand, Kalamazoo, Pere Marquette and White rivers." Four or five days of fish collections are planned this spring. The date those collections will begin depends on water temperatures and the presence of ripe fish. This schedule can change daily for many reasons. Electrofish sampling usually begins at Croton Dam each day about 8 a.m. and proceeds downstream to the Pine Street Access Site. If more eggs are needed, additional collections may occur downstream to the Thornapple Street Access Site. |
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May 2024
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