4 of 5 school districts to have board races
Oceana County Farm Bureau/Oceana Conservation District Farm Tour Aug. 6 Page 3a
Page 3a
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Oceana’s
Summer
$1.50
By this time next week, Oceana County visitors and property owners should know which candidates will have advanced mostly unopposed to the November general election. Voters from all 16 townships and the City of Hart will head to the polls next Tuesday, Aug. 2 to cast numerous ballots for state, county and township offices. The county and a number of town-
Oceana County Drain Commissioner Jesse Beckman unexpectedly retired last week. Retiring Oceana County Administrator Sue Johnson said that Beckman contacted her last week, indicating he would retire at 5 p.m. July 22. Beckman later confirmed the retirement in a text to Johnson’s cell phone. Johnson said Beckman she had no idea why Beckman decided to retire, but did receive his intentions in writing. Oceana County Clerk Becky Griffin, county Prosecutor Joe Bizon and probate Judge Brad Lambrix met Monday morning to discuss the options to fill the drain commission office vacancy. They will host a public meeting on the matter Tuesday, Aug. 9 at 2 p.m. to discuss the process. The meeting will be in the county board conference room. Beckman did not seek reelection to the position this spring. The position now has six Republican candidates seeking the office which is expected to be decided in the Aug. 2 primary election next week.
Mears woman dies after moped crash
A Mears woman died last week from injuries sustained in a moped accident on Longbridge Road in Pentwater Township. According to a July 20 press release from the Michigan Sate Police Hart Post, Cindy Lou Earle, 65, was driving her moped in a westerly direction on Longbridge Road when she lost control on a curve at approximately 7:15 p.m. The release indicates Earle was thrown from the moped, causing her to hit her head on the roadway, causing a serious head injury. She was not wearing a helmet. The release indicates witnesses stopped and assisted Earle at the scene until emergency medical services, law enforcement and fire and rescue personnel arrived on the scene. Earle was transported to Mercy Health Partners Lakeshore Campus in Shelby where she was airlifted to Spectrum Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids where she later passed away from her injuries. Alcohol and excessive speed do not appear to be factors in the accident, the release said. Troopers were assisted at the scene by Oceana EMS, the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office and Pentwater Fire and Rescue. The accident remained under investigation.
Oceana Dr iv during Ni e to perform ght at the Light Aug. at 3 Lighthous the Sable The
To be the primary source of information for our communities
Ghost Tow planned in n Day Ferry
OSYT to perfo of Peter Rabb rm ‘The Adventures it & Friends ’ SLOW-KIN G IN
HART
continued on
3Calendar mark your
Wee
July 29
Friday … Back from the Mac Party ter Yacht , 5 p.m., Pentw Club. … Last Frida Open to public. ap.m., down y of the Month Galle town Pentw ry by the Pentw ater galler Stroll, 5-8 … Two Highater Arts Council. ies. Hosted District’s Frida Strung, 7 p.m., Hart y night There is no summer conce Historic rt serie at the histor cost to attend the concert series. ic district, Union stree at s ts in Hart, corner of Lincoln and taken. In case of rain, but donations will place indoo be the conce rs. rts will take
July 29-31
July 30
OSYT
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July 28
Thursday … Oceana shop, 6:30- County 4-H inform ational work8 County resid p.m., Hart Comm unity Cente ents are entering exhibits into invited to learn abour. Fair. Youth t the Ocea ages an introductor 5-19 are invite na County d to comp y lete bers for exhib craft project with 4-H mem it. -
Friday-Sun … Hesp day eria Sesq tion “Faith uicentenni ” al church open weekend. Salad supp Celebraservice and houses, gospel conce er, music, potluck. rt, worship
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Shelby lib rary prep for Good pi Buy Book ng The Friends District Libra of the Shelby Area Sale “This annu nual “Goo ry will host the anal sale is d
Saturday … Take It To downtown Hart Car Show, 8 a.m. to 4 Hart. p.m., … Ferry Ghost Town a.m.) and lunch (noon Day. Breakfast (8-11 the fire dept. to 3 p.m.) parade, crafts auxiliary, greased hosted by pig conte and flea pull, adult st, tractor pull, market, kiddy tracto kayak river r egg toss, pork dinne race, karaoke, dunksack races, r. tank and … Coloring Shelby Areaclub for adults, 9 a.m. District to 1 p.m., the librar y’s meeting Library. Club meet s required, in room, no supp registratio n … Oceana lies provided free of charg Coun ty 4-H inform e. shop, 10-11 ation :30 a.m., brary. Shelby Area al workDistrict Li… The Smok 9 p.m., Big in’ Dobroleles w/ Alex John Hart Brew son, Polk Rd., ing Comp in any, 4086 W. … Saturday Hart. Double JJ Night Rodeo serie s, 7:30 p.m., Resort. Cost $6 for childr en 12 and is $12 for adults and under.
tant fundr Buy Book an imporaiser for Sale” Saturday Aug. the library, 6 from so we invite Books, CDs, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. you to both donate DVDs, board books, and to games and encourage puzzle dona friends and your be brought tions can neighbors to too,” frien to do so Aug. 5 begin the library Friday, ds group Leon Balla president st said. library frien ning at 9 a.m. The ds ask that New this year not donate Aug. 2 is an assor encyclopedias,you do of book gift Tuesday ers Digest … Rock climb baskets avail tment Read- silen Condensed able t auction, of the Pentw ing wall, 10 a.m. textbooks. books or and the book for to 2 p.m., ater Town If will open part sale Reading ship Libra in transporti you need assistance Friday even & Activity 5-7 p.m. ng ing from Program. ry’s Summer weigh at least A books, pleas large numbers of Children 45 lbs. must door will get $5 donation at the e at 861-4565. contact the library Aug. 3 in. Most hardcearly bird shoppers overs Wedn are only $1 and paperback … Night at the Light esday s are three ing Ocea concert serie for $1. na Drive, s featu
Hesperia 15 0 to ce Faith weekenlebrate d
Orange you glad it’s finished
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WEEKEND
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7 p.m., Little Lighthous re. Hoste Point Sable d by the Lighthous Sable Point e Keep s … Hart VFW ers Associatio Burger Night n (SPLKA). is $5. , 5-7 p.m., cost … Music on the Comm Winslow-K ons featu ing, 6:308 p.m., down ring Luke town Hart. Aug. 4 Thursday … Singer/son part of the gwriter Jeanie B!, 10:30 a.m., Pentwater Summer Town Reading & Activity ship Library’s ing, singin Program. g, jumping, Danclaughing Aug. 4-5 and more. Thursday-F … Boating Safety Cour riday to noon, se, 2-day Pentwater class 8 a.m. information Yach or to regis t Club. For more Simon at ter call Depu 231-873-67 ty Tim 71.
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Shelby’s Kirsten Kelly receives Emmy nomination for homeless youth documentary
Nominations for the 37th Annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards were announced July 21 by The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and on that list was the work of Shelby native, Kirsten Kelly. The teacher, director and filmmaker spent five years completing the nominated documentary, “The Homestretch” with co-director and co-producer Kelly Anne de Mare, with whom she started Spargel Productions. The film, which had its world premiere at the Hot Docs Film Festival in Toronto in April of 2014 has been screened in major cities and was aired nationally on PBS’ Independent Lens April 13, 2015 is about homeless youth in Chicago. According to Kartemquin Films, who
After a decade of work Art Jeffries street rod is firing on all cylinders By Amanda Dodge OHJ Contributing Writer
Colors can have a lot of significance in one’s life. From clothes and walls to important events and gifts, certain colors are preferred and certain colors are chosen, but sometimes the colors choose us. For Art Jeffries it has been orange that has been both a burden and a blessing throughout his life. The lifelong Hart resident grew up to learn the family trade. “I started off doing body work (for vehicles) in 1967 as an apprentice. I have always been a body man. My dad was too. We worked at the Ford garage in Hart,” Jeffries said, adding that two of his uncles were also “body men.” Jeffries said he enjoyed his work so much, but had to leave it for a short time in 1969, when he entered the Army to fight in the Vietnam War. “I just missed
SHELBY NATIVE RECEIVES EMMY NOMINATION continued on 6a
Silver Lake dunking incident results in pair of charges
Andrew Skinner • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
Art Jeffries of Hart, top, stands next to his customized 1931 Ford Model A 5-window coupe. Above, fuzzy dice dangle from the interior of Jeffries street rod.
the Tet Offensive,” he said. “All I did was walk the jungle and get shot at.” He also attained the rank of Specialist and carried the position of an E5, but was never officially given the rank. He said he served as a squad leader and got
a job driving a Jeep for a commanding officer. During the war was when the burden of Agent Orange befell him, causing a host of problems
FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS continued on 2a
Classic cars to line the streets of downtown Hart Saturday during the annual Take it to Hart Car Show
income of up to $44,955 and qualify for WIC. This equates to an hourly wage of $21.61. DHD#10 is encouraging pregnant and postpartum women, breastfeeding women and families with children up to age five years to sign up for WIC. “WIC food options are continually changing and expanding to include healthier choices,” said Anne Bianchi, MS, RD- DHD#10 WIC program director. “WIC participants may use their benefits to receive low
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degrees
Charles Mears State Park, Pentwater
Music on the Common to feature s Luke Winslow-K ing
Children and adults alike find plenty will aftern to do Satur oon. 30 during day, July the The always Town Day. annual Ferry Ghost contest will popular greased pig begin at 10 Ghost Town signa.m., Day begin a breakfast s with pig ups an hour beforehan with hosted by d. The contest is open Township the Ferry to children Fire Depa up rtment Aux- to the age of 10. iliary from 8-11 a.m. Following in barn. Follo the Hesperia 150 wing break the fire test is the kiddi greased pig conauxiliary will has featu fast the e tractor pull a.m. Open at 11 of gardens and histo red tours ist Chur noon to 3 p.m. serve lunch from to children ch was organ ric houses; age of eight up to the why not churc ized as the Hesp hes? The , the tracto A craft fair stones of corner- Chur eria Methodist Episc r have pull and signwill our comm flea mark ups an hour along Main ch in 1866 opal unity will et time. Stree , and the ahead of open their doors grew along church a.m. and shou t will begin at 9 and share histo with the ries Satur their Bapt ld last into ist and Presb village. The the late 2-5 p.m. with day, July 30 from GHOST TOW yterian churc es free were N DAY hadmission established all. continued on to 1865, in 1858 and 10b respectively. The Hesperia Christ the United Meth odFAITH
Guidelines increase to benefit more women, infants and children and provide healthy foods
O U R M I S S ION
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entertainm & ent
Enjoy a pleas ant Friday town Pentw evening in ater downwith featured visiting nine galle ries, many artists this Pentwater Arts Coun Friday, July 29. The cil sponsors from 5-8 p.m. durin this event g the month throu gh September last Friday of the Participating . galleries will refreshments provide light and a local providing musician music on the sidewalk. will be Galleries
The Whitehall The Ocea sister duo make its Hart Youth Thea na Summer Two High tre will prese 29 at 7 p.m. Historic District debu Strung will its 2016 nt production during the t , The mer concert districts Frida Friday, July ventures series. of Peter Rabb Ady night sumTwo High Friends, Frida it & Strung featu Kroll as they res Hannah Saturday, July y, July 29 and play Irish, and Rebecca icana. Their bluegrass, the Hart Publi 30 at 7 p.m. in blues and Ame instrument c Schools s include fiddle and mandolin. r- ditorium, Aulocat , guitar, bass The summ Middle Scho ed in the Hart ol, 308 W. Smokin’ Dobrer concert series Johnson St., in continues Hart. Adm with $5 for Northern Edge oleles Aug. 5 and adults and ission is concludes Aug. 12. teens and with $3 for There is no children. Hart Histo cost to attend the conc The Adve ric ert series at ntures of Union stree District, at the corne the Rabbit & Peter r of ts Friends is a familyPop and popc in Hart, but donations Lincoln and friendly tellin will be taken lawn chair orn will be for sale. Be . Beatrix Potteg of the life of or sure will take placeblanket. In case of rain, to bring a with sever r, interwoven al the concerts indoors. known storie of her bests. The cast for
WIC income guidelines increase
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Friday, July 22 released its 2016 WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) income guidelines that became effective July 1. These new income guidelines increase the income eligibility threshold so that more women, infants and children can receive healthy WIC foods, according to a District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) news release. Under the new guidelines a family of four can make an annual
July 25
Lake Michigan water temperature
B Outdoor Section
a New Orlea guitarist, concert serie nse as Point and songwrite singer, composer, s continues ciation’s Nigh s Lighthouse Keep part of Max Bloo producer r. His with Ruth mquist, Aug. ers Asso& that combines Miss work is an eclectic series Wedn t at the Light summ 10. All concerts mix issippi delta er concert esday, Aug. music, tradit 3. be open late begin at 7 p.m. The blues ional jazz towe and roots rock , folk His alche mical song standard admi and available for tours r will s blend conte & roll. ssion charg for the e. mporary WIN
Newfield, Pentwater and Shelby. Shelby Public Two High St rung make the Schools also has a building bond requesttoon Hart Hi District debustoric t ballot. Complete primary election coverage appeared in the July 21 edition of Oceana’s Herald-Journal and is available to view at www.oceanaheraldjournal.com. The entire county-wide ballot can be viewed at http://oceana.mi.us/clerk/view-elections/
Page B1
County drain commissioner Beckman retires
Thursday, July d-Journal 28, 2016
kly … Knights of 109 E. WashColumbus Saturday p.m., game ington, Hart; socia night bingo, s at 6 p.m. l hour at … Bingo 3 , every Frida Dec. 9, Pentw y, March 18 ater VFW ness US-3 Hall, 8440 through 1, N. Busip.m., game 869-4158. Doors open at 4:30 s … Oceana begin at 6:15 p.m. County Histo cal Socie rical and Gene ty, 114 Dryde alogidays, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. n St., Hart, Wedn es… Oceana County Histo and Old rical Park, Town Hall; Museum Saturdays/ p.m.; June -August. Sundays GALLERY 1-4 … Sunday, STROLL p.m., Good folk music jam sessi continued on stuffs, down ons, 1:3010b … Line danc 4 town Pentw ing, Wedn ater. Pentwater Friendship esdays, 6:30-9 p.m., … Shelb Cente r, 869-4759. y Area Distri The Hart Car Fridays at 11:30 a.m. ct Library Storytime, Show is set award troph … for Hart Area Saturday, July ies in 18 class Public Libra Friday, 11 30 in down All cars are es, as well ry storytime, a.m. town as welc best every Hart. ome to … Lap-Time paint This registration Story Time until 10 a.m. take part in this 14th and best of show troph year the show will Hart Area , Fridays, shortly after ies. Registration Publi annual show 3 p.m. olds to share c Library. A time 10:30 a.m., is $10 per for 0-2 car the day , which begins at 8 Breakfast stories, song with their will be avail a.m. with of the show s and finge year careg meal choic able at sever . Prizes will r plays … The Ladd ivers. es will be al local resta be given er Comm a fundraisin The Mexican/A urants the State St., unity Cente g breakfast in Shelby. morning of r, 67 N. and lunch Open a.m. to 3 Choices West merican style break the show. Amo put on by p.m. for “Youn Monday-Friday, fast will be Counseling, ng the the 3 9 p.m. avail g take place Knig at Substance for adults hts of Colu at the and family Heart;” noon to Abuse Servi able throughout the mbus. day throu time. Open show to raise A raffle will K of C building on ces and Vinta gh Thursday, TuesWash in funds also ge Rose. The grades 6-12; 3-5 p.m. ington Stree take place will be a 50-in for children breakfast is for and 5:30as part of the t, in in grades 8 p.m. for set to car show, with downtown Hart. 9-12. prize will be ch television, secon childr … Pentw en three d prize will an ater Histo be a fully-equi top prizes given out. Downtown air hose reel. Tickets rical Socie 85 S. Rutle First ty for merc dge pped Muse the prize hants, the Hart raffle are $5 NAPA tool um with the follo through Satur St., open 1-4 box and third p.m., Tues , each, Musi day 1-4 p.m. Thursday June through House, Dan’ wing eateries, the Pink c Shop, A Sisters Act, or five for $20. s Corner Bake LLC Eleph ber and Octob day through Satur August and throughou ry and Dairy ant, Deb’s Lakeside . and the Vintage Rose day Septe er. Free t the show. m… Pickin Cafe, La Fiest along Delight will ’ in Pentw admission. For more infor have speci ater, Tues August, 7 mation, conta al offers and a, Kristi’s Pour days, throu p.m., Hart, ct Russ Robb … Pentwater Pentwater Villag demonstra gh tions summ MI - Music on the e ins at 747-5 through Sept.Civic Band Concert, Green. er concert 916, or Gary Commons Thurs , 1, serie the Deuling at 8 days, p.m., s Green Main Stree Pentwater 750-3013. t Program put on by the Hart Village … Little will welcome Luck Wins Point low-King Sable solo act a.m. to 5 to perform Aug. 3, from p.m. daily Lighthouse tours, Wednesday house tour 10 through Octob , mons in Dow 6:30-8 p.m. at the and 130 er. Lightstep climb Hart Com The Ocea ntown Hart. $5 for adult to the top na Drive s and $2 Luke Wins is the Little band will for children. low-King Point Sable perform based is
Lots of candidates, proposals on next week’s ballot Polls open Tuesday, Aug. 2 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Oceana's Heral
Pentwater Gallery St roll set for Fr iday
Classic the streets cars to line of downtow n Hart
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ships also have ballot proposals to decide. The primary races include state representative, sheriff, treasurer’s, drain commissioner, District 1 and District 5 county commissioner seats and road commission seats. Township races on tap include clerk races in Elbridge, Golden, Grant and Shelby; supervisor races in Golden, Leavitt and Newfield; and a treasurer’s race in Shelby. In addition to the county’s four millage proposals, millage proposals will be put before voters in Benona, Claybanks, Crystal, Elbridge, Grant,
S WEEK
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Hart’s Barten to make 2nd Paralympic trip for Rio Games Page 3b
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fat milk, cheese, eggs, 100 percent juices, cereals, dry peas/beans or peanut butter, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grain breads or tortillas. As of July 11, low fat yogurt and whole wheat pasta has been added to the choices of food.” Studies show that families who participate in WIC can save anywhere between $30 and $112 in their monthly grocery bill by utilizing their benefits. Bianchi says, “In addition to the excellent food selection available
INDEX Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8a Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7c Court, Cops, Gov’t . . . . . . 5-6b Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . 10a Oceana in the Summer B1, 10
Outdoor . . . . . . . . . . . . C1, 3 School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4b Social . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9a Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3b Viewpoints . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4a
through WIC and the savings to a monthly grocery bill, WIC participants receive so much more, such as education and referrals to other DHD#10 services and community resources.” Additional benefits include: • Women without health insurance can receive in-person assistance in enrolling in Medicaid or other health
WIC INCOME GUIDELINES INCREASE continued on 7a
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A Mt. Pleasant man faces two child abuse counts for allegedly dunking his 5-year-old son repeatedly in Silver Lake July 13. Jeremy Lawren Ruble, 37, of 4305 E. Wing Rd., was charged with one felony count of second degree child abuse and one misdemeanor count of fourth degree child abuse. The felony charge carries a maximum 10Ruble year prison. The fourth degree child abuse count carries a one-year penalty or probation for up to five years. In a previous release, the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office indicated a deputy was dispatched to the Silver Lake State Park day-use swimming area at 5:12 p.m. to investigate a possible case of child abuse. Upon arrival, the deputy found that a crowd of people had witnessed Ruble drag his son into Silver Lake and forcibly hold the boy’s head under water repeatedly. The sheriff’s office previously said several people witnessing the incident stepped forward and intervened in an effort to ensure the boy wasn’t harmed. After interviewing several upset witnesses, Ruble and his wife, Ruble was arrested. A $2,500, 10 percent bond has been posted. A preliminary conference hearing in 78th District Court in Hart is set for Aug. 1.
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• July 28, 2016 • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
Firing on all cylinders
that plague him to this day. Jeffries is currently battling stage three lung cancer and said he just completed his third round of chemotherapy. His prognosis had been better in the past, but he said he was recently notified after a PET scan that his cancer has spread and is inoperable, so he is looking into an experimental treatment. “When I had radiation and chemo last winter, I couldn’t even walk to the mailbox or shovel our deck,” he said. “They’ve shrunk it down, but they can’t seem to corner it.” Though the cancer has slowed him down, Jeffries said he has worked on thousands of cars in his professional and personal life and remembers many of the people and stories behind each one. In 2010, he retired from Van’s Body Shop in Shelby, but continues to restore cars for people at his home, as he has for a long time. His current project is a mint green 1959 Studebaker pickup. “I’m just about done with it and I all the painting is complete,” Jeffries said. However, he said that this will be the last project that he does for those outside his family. Upon completion of this truck, he said that he is going to help restore his son, Timothy’s, gold 1973 Mach 1 this fall. Adding that the car will eventually go to his grandson. Jeffries noted that he does not always work alone on these restoration projects and is often aided by his brother-in-law Corvel Toliver. “He’s just as big a car guy as I am,” Jeffries said. “He has a 1934 Ford sedan that I painted and did the body work on. We collaborate on things. He does the chassis work and I do the body and paint.” After completing countless cars for others, Jeffries said he was keeping an eye out for a restoration project where he could call the shots. In 2007, the opportunity presented itself in the form of a 1931 Ford Model A 5-window coupe. He said that he purchased it for a good price in average running shape from Don Bohs, who had been interested in restoring it previously, and had kept it stored in Lankfers airport hangar. Jeffries continued on to say that he saw Bohs a year after his restoration inquiry at Van’s Body Shop and asked if he still had the car. Bohs asked if he was interested in purchasing it and the deal was made for the almost 80-year-old car with only 36,790 miles on the original speedometer. Jeffries said he first removed several things from the car to sell and kept only what he wanted to reuse. He put the frame, motor, transmission, hood and wheels up for sale and said a friend of Chip Foose, of the popular car restoration show’s “Overhaulin,’” purchased most of the items. He sold the items to Foose’s friend for the exact same price he paid for the car. He then was able to make money by selling the other items locally. This speaks to Jeffries resourcefulness, as he then set out to customizing his new street rod with parts from a variety of other vehicles. “I chopped the top and made new panels for the lower part and fixed a few areas where it had rotted out, but it was a pretty solid car,” he explained. Jeffries has a detailed album of the entire project from purchase to completion. Each photo also has a description next to it of what work is being completed. When it came to the roof of the car, Jeffries said that Model A’s had a hole with chicken wire over it, so he pieced in a roof from a Geo Tracker, as he wanted something “with ribs in it.” He had salvaged the car from a rollover. He said he had to lengthen the steel body panels by five inches and Tolliver built a new chassis to accommodate the V8 he swapped in for the previous four cylinder engine. That V8 is a Chevy 350 with “a mild cam that beefs up the motor to a 355.” He added that his car has a 1973 Mercury Comet rear-end and a 300-gear. The suspension on the front is from a Mustang II. It has manual steering and the drive train “is a mixed-bag of a GM transmission and motor and a Ford rear end.”
from Page 1a
Andrew Skinner • Oceana’s Herald-Journal
Art Jeffries of Hart, top, stands next to his completed street rod while displaying a picture of what it looked like the day he brought it home on a trailer. Jeffries, right, enjoys the view from behind the steering wheel of his 1931 Ford street rod. Below, Take it to Hart Car Show attendee’s look over the engine of Jeffries street rod during last years show.
His engine compartment is open and he said he likes it that way, but plans to make a bonnet sometime for it, but it will not be fully covered. The engine is loud and strong with a Flowmaster exhaust. The interior boasts a tilt steering wheel out of a 1978 Buick, a 1936 Ford dashboard, a customized headliner, and fixed seats out of a Saturn Vue. The horn also makes a quaint “ah-oh-gah” sound. On the outside, he said that “we changed the rumble seat to an open trunk.” The gas tank opening is also on the trunk and the radiator is filled in the front. He put windshield wipers on it and it has Ford Model A headlights, but Jeffries said they are 12 volt instead of six volt. It also has an electric fan that Jeffries said runs all the time when the engine is on and it has an aftermarket grill guard that keeps stones from hitting the radiator. It has an original, restored license plate, Cragar SS wheels and is estimated to have over 300 horsepower. “I’m still tweaking it. It is completely customized and has been totally rejuvenated. My brother-in-law was a huge help. He’s an all-around good car guy,” Jeffries said. “Every bit of it is fun. I got to do it how I wanted it and built it my way. A lot of thinking and planning has gone into this.” When it came time to paint his customized canvas, Jeffries said that he had seen a car painted with the most brilliant shade of orange in Kalamazoo and from the photograph he had it shown like fire in the sun. He wanted that exact color until he found out it cost $1,000 a gallon. So he went with his second choice, Toxic Orange, from the 2010 Chrysler Dodge color line. He said it took just over a gallon of paint to complete the car. For the top of this car he chose an almond shade and said he put white pearl in the clear coat to add some shine. He notes that he is a Du-
Pont paint guy, when it comes to brand loyalty. It took Jeffries until 2015 to complete the car and get it on the road. “I was doing other people’s cars to get enough money to afford it. I would then go to Kalamazoo to buy pieces for it, a little at a time,” he said. “It was a project and I loved every bit of it, but it was work. I am so happy I stayed with it and got it on the road.” He has also wanted to name his vehicle after his partner in life for the past 47 years, his wife Mary Jane, and she shares his passion for all things automotive. He added that the two enjoy attending the St. Ignace car show each June and “we call it our anniversary.” Mary Jane has also made a contribution to the car in a pair of orange fuzzy dice that she purchased in St. Ignace. The car sports two pairs, a white pair from the rearview mirror and the orange pair hanging on the passenger’s side. The Jeffries really do love car shows, as their travels can attest. “Three years ago I brought the car to the Take it to Hart Car Show. It didn’t have a motor, but I just couldn’t wait to take it there,” he said, adding that he received many positive comments from onlookers. Last year, he placed second in the Street Rods category at the 13th annual Take it to Hart Car Show, and he will be at this year’s show on Saturday as well. He has a history with the show too, as he served as a judge for three years of it. He said that he has also shown it in car shows in Shelby, Pentwater and Silver Lake and during Cruise Night in Whitehall. He added that he also drove it in this year’s National Asparagus Festival’s Joan Glover Royale Parade. He also noted a humorous time and showed a photo of when they drove the car to an Arby’s restaurant and parked under the sign which was advertising Pumpkin Cheesecake shakes,
indicative of the color scheme of their car. Now in its second year on the road, Jeffries is selective about when and where he drives it. The nature of the work he has put into it and the type of vehicle it is necessitate an effort to keep it looking pristine to this passionate and skilled body man. The furthest trip he has taken it on was on a color tour to Frankfort, Mich. and back with Mary Jane. He said that she has never driven the car, as the seats are fixed, but he hopes she will this year. “Is it fun to drive? Oh yes,” he exclaimed. “I wouldn’t change anything about it.”
We suppor t
Paul Hodges Oceana County Treasurer
George and Sally Perles John and Amy Perles Lew and Karen Raskey Joel Thinnes Jon and Chr isti Daly Craig and Lor ie Cihak Steve Tuttle
Paid for by John and Amy Perles, 212 West Lowell Street, Pentwater, Michigan 49449