Suspect shot twice with tasers before being subdued
A 31-year-old man was in custody Monday afternoon and could face a charge after he allegedly charged at a sheriff’s deputy with an axe handle and knife following a disturbance in the 3500 block of North Ridge Road in Golden Township late Sunday afternoon. Oceana County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Craig Mast said deputies were dispatched to the disturbance at approximately 4:30 p.m. Sunday where they found the disturbance ongoing and household items strewn about the yard. Mast said deputies made contact with the caller after which the suspect came from around a corner of the house armed with a fiberglass axe handle. According to Mast, the suspect began to threaten officers at the scene and demanded that they shoot him. After deputies directed the suspect to stop, Mast said he retreated into the residence where he proceeded to break windows before coming back outside with the axe handle and a 12-inch kitchen knife. At that point, Mast said the suspect then charged at the deputies, and when he refused deputies’ commands to stop, one of the deputies on scene deployed his taser gun. The
SUSPECT TASED, TWICE continued on 7a
Helmlinger to leave Silver Lake chamber Page 3a
The lady in red
Thursday, April 14, 2016
At nearly 90, Jeanette Lipps is starting a new phase of life Page 3a
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GOLF SOCCER
Spring 2016
Pentwater begins to explore village-wide street improvement project
In his services committee report, Councilman mational meeting is planned for May 16. Norm Shotwell said council might target this No“It’s a lot of work out in front of us,” Shotwell vember or next spring to present a millage request said. PENTWATER — The wheels were put into moto voters. In the meantime, he plans to work with According to a press release issued by the viltion Monday, April 11 by the Pentwater Village the committee and other village organizations to VILLAGE-WIDE STREET Council as it begins developing ways to pay for a develop ideas and get the word out on the village IMPROVEMENT PROJECT village-wide street improvement project. street improvement plan. An evening public inforcontinued on 6a
By John Cavanagh
Herald-Journal Writer
So this is April
Andrew Skinner • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
Ice clings to the railing along the northern section of the Pentwater Channel during a chilly and at times snowy Saturday morning, April 9. Oceana County is expected to experience warmer weather in the coming days as temperatures in the 60s are forecasted.
Filing deadline just 5 days away
Just five days remain for candidates to file nominating petitions to seek state, county or township offices in this year’s elections. A number of candidates have already filed ahead of the 4 p.m. April 19 deadline, setting up a number of local races for the August primary election. The most recent candidates to file include Paul Hodges of Shelby, who is running as a Republican for
the Oceana County Treasurer’s position. He will face Gail Schulte of Mears and Aleksy Urick, also of Mears in the primary race. Jerry Kroll of Grant Township has filed to run for the Oceana County Drain Commissioner position as a Republican. He will face current Deputy Drain Commission Michelle Martin of Pentwater and Lori Green of Weare in the primary. Recently retired Oceana County
Road Commission Operations Superintendent Lloyd Gowell of New Era has filed to run as a Republican for one of two seats on the road commission, setting up a four-way primary race. The other candidates include Gary Tate of Hart, incumbent Allen Blohm of Shelby and Philip Carter of New Era. There remains a three-way race among Republican candidates Lt. Craig Mast of Hart, Undersheriff
Tim Priese of New Era and Deputy Roy Strait of Montague to succeed retiring Sheriff Bob Farber. So far, there is only one race for one of the seven Oceana County Board of Commissioners seats. Robert Fong of Mears is challenging incumbent Larry Byl of Benona for the 5th District seat to represent Golden, Benona and most of Clay-
DEADLINE 5 DAYS AWAY
continued on 6a
Updated master plans heads to county board By John Cavanagh Herald-Journal Writer
Although it heard a few objections, the Oceana County Planning Commission April 7 approved forwarding its revised county master plan to the full county board of commissioners for final approval. The move came following a public hearing in which three people asked the planning commission not to forward the master plan in its present form as they feared it stifled private property rights. Prior to the hearing, planner Stephen Carlson
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of the West Michigan Shoreline Regional Development Commission, highlighted the steps that went into the five-year plan update. He pointed to four public input sessions held in each of the county’s four quadrants and included those ideas in the master plan’s appendix. Although he used 2012 employment statistics, Carlson said he received updated statistics for 2015 from Oceana Economic Development Corporation Director Anne Hardy, which were included. Audience member Kerry Krentz of Rothbury asked Carlson if he contacted local zoning official for input during the process to which Carlson
said it wasn’t the intent of the planning process. “It wasn’t an intentional slight,” Carlson said. During the public comment portion of the hearing, Krentz said the first six chapters were very informative and would make a good middle school class project. He said as he read further into the plan he began to believe that it was a “top down” plan. He questioned why it included information regarding federal forest lands when there are professionals who manage them as well
INDEX Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8a Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . 9-11b Court, Cops, Gov’t . . . . . . . 6b Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . 10a Outdoor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7b
School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5b Social . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9a Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B1-3 Stuff to do . . . . . . . . . . . 11a Viewpoints . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4a
UPDATE HEADING TO COUNTY BAORD continued on 6a
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US-31 work to start next week
Work will start next Wednesday, April 18 on US-31 between Fruitvale Road and Winston Road in Grant and Montague townships, in southern Oceana and northern Muskegon counties. The $10.6 million Michigan Department of Transportation project includes repaving the north and south bound lanes of the US-31 expressway between Fruitvale and Winston roads. There will be single-lane closures during the construction phase with all lanes to be open on weekends. Work includes highway resurfacing, bridge approach work, and work on the Winston Road ramps. All lanes will be open weekends starting July 1. Work is anticipated to be completed by late September.
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