Postcards from the hand
Donaldson chosen to National Youth Activism Fellowship
Funding issues could jeopardize HHW collection
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Thursday, January 19, 2017
Two sections 22 pages
Oceana’s
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Page B1
$720K in restitution ordered in Shelby food stamp fraud case
La Fortuna Carniceria owner, daughters convicted in federal case
More than $700,000 in restitution and 33 months in federal prison were ordered for a Shelby businesswoman convicted of conspiracy in defrauding the federal government. Cruz Gonzalez, owner of La Fortuna Carniceria in Shelby, was sentenced last week in US District Court in Grand Rapids to serve 33 months in
prison. She also was ordered to pay $722,149 in restitution to the US Department of Agriculture. Her daughter, Fabiola Garcia, was also sentenced to serve 20 months in federal prison and pay the same $722,149 in restitution. A second daughter, Gisela Mendoza, was sentenced in November to six months in prison, two months home detention
and restitution of $722,149. The three were arrested in late 2015 and were accused of conspiring to obtain money by defrauding the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by
FOOD STAMP FRAUD
continued on 6a
Powers reelected county board chairman
Walker elected vice chair; 2 night meetings scheduled
A number of housekeeping matters were immediately attended to during the Oceana County Board of Commissioners organizational meeting Jan. 12. Commissioner Denny Powers of Hart was unanimously reelected to serve as board chairman. “Thank you for the honor and confidence in me,” Powers said. Two nominations Powers were put forth for the vice-chairmanship. Commissioner Dean Gustafson nominated Commissioner Larry Byl of Benona and Byl in turn nominated Bob Walker of Grant Township. Following a paper ballot vote, the board elected Walker as the vice chairman. Walker With a new twist, the board approved its meeting schedule for the coming year. County Administrator Bob Sobie suggested that the board consider scheduling at least two night meetings for the year with one of them being the annual budget hear-
POWERS REELECTED COUNTY BOARD CHAIRMAN continued on 6a
ZBA clears way for cell tower
By Greg Means
Shoreline Media Writer
Andrew Skinner • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
Drip, drip
Visitors to the Little Point Sable Lighthouse walk along the Lake Michigan shoreline Saturday afternoon, Jan. 14 as the melting ice accumulated along the shoreline creates icicles that hang into the frigid lake.
CASA to celebrate rebirth Jan. 27
A new non-profit affiliation is hoped to revive the Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) of Oceana County so it can improve its mission to provide services to abused and neglected children. The program had previously been affiliated with Muskegon County,
but due to distance and differences in demographics, the program had all but gone away as it had only one volunteer remaining, advocate Supervisor Emily Santellan said. The local program is now affiliated with the Fountain Hill Center for Counseling, which has an office at the New Era
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Reformed Church. “It’s a good thing because it will be better for the program,” Santellan said. “Now, we can focus on getting more volunteers.” The new affiliation will be celebrated with an event in the Oceana County Board of Commissioners
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Room in Hart Friday, Jan. 27 at 10 a.m. Oceana County Probate Judge Brad Lambrix and others will share the impact the CASA program has had on area children in the local court system. Light refreshments will be served.
GRANT TWP. – The construction of a cell phone tower in Grant Township near the Village of Rothbury this coming summer has been cleared following four months review by township officials. The final hurdle was cleared last Monday night when the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) approved variances to the height of the tower and setbacks from the property line. The latest decision was made with no opposition from neighbors who had packed the township meeting room, at times, when the cell tower was discussed during the special use permit process. Neighbors were not opposed to a new cell tower to improve reception in the Rothbury area, but to its location in a rural residential area near small lakes. The ZBA approved the variances for the 190-foot cell tower which will be located off Clay Road between Oceana Drive and 80th Avenue. The township’s zoning ordinance limits the cell tower height in the residential zone to 150 feet, It also requires a setback from the property line equal to the height of the tower. On two sides of the lot in question there is only a 150 foot setback. New Par A Delaware Partnership, representing Verizon Wireless, originally requested a 190 foot tower last September, but had revised its proposal to 150 feet to meet the zoning limits. However, last month the Grant Town-
CELL TOWER APPROVED continued on 6a
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