Allison Scarbrough

Pirate News is a presentation of Hart Public Schools in partnership with Oceana County Press.   By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor HART — Hart Public Schools’ first-ever Faculty Feud is set for Friday, Feb. 28, at 7 p.m. in the district’s auditorium at the middle school. Like the popular TV game show Family Feud, the competition will feature teams of five battling for the most popular survey answers. But instead of family members, the teams are Hart Public Schools faculty members. The four teams include faculty members from each school building and the central business office. The Spitler Elementary team includes: Principal Brandon Bruce, Gwen Herremans, Michelle Lewandoski, Kelli Gross and Zach Budrew. The Hart Middle School team includes: Principal Kevin Ackley, Sarah Riley, Tarah Eisenlohr, Leo Uber and Kyle Weiler. The Hart High School team includes: Principal Ken Byard, Lisa Miller, Stacia Erickson, Elliott Ambrose and Adam Jerry. The Central Business Office team includes: Superintendent Mark Pla

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor HART — The criminal case against a 39-year-old Hart man charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a concealed weapon and felony firearm was dismissed in Oceana County’s 79th District Court Tuesday, Feb. 18, after the alleged victim failed to show up for a court hearing. Kyle Jon Peters was accused of wielding a pistol at the Lake-Osceola State Bank in Walkerville and causing a minor injury to a 62-year-old man, Jan. 27. “We subpoenaed the victim to court today, and he did not show up for the preliminary exam,” said Oceana County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Bizon. “So, this case is dismissed. “The 62-year-old man has been creating a series of incidents between Hart and Walkerville. He’s been harassing police, people at the bank and Hallack Construction people,” said Bizon. “In particular, the defendant’s wife works at that bank, and he had been hanging around there all day. “Rather than dealing with it appropriately, (Peters) takes it upon h

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor WALKERVILLE — A 39-year-old Hart man was arrested on charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a concealed weapon and felony firearm after wielding a pistol at the Lake-Osceola State Bank, at 133 E. Main St., and causing a minor injury to a 62-year-old man. Kyle Jon Peters pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in Oceana County’s 79th District Court, according to court records, and is scheduled to appear for a competency hearing Thursday, Feb. 6, at 9 a.m. The assault occurred Monday, Jan. 27, shortly before 2 p.m., according to Michigan State Police Cadet Dante Richards of the Hart post. “This was not a robbery — it was a dispute between two people that happened at the bank,” said Oceana County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Bizon. The victim was not a bank employee, said Bizon. “It is still under investigation,” said Richards. Peters is free after posting a $1,000 bond Thursday, Jan. 30, according to court records. Assault with a dangerous weapon i

Wildcat News is a presentation of Walkerville Public Schools in partnership with Oceana County Press.   By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor WALKERVILLE — The Walkerville Wildcats will celebrate homecoming next week. This year’s homecoming court includes: freshmen Teagan Mannor and Skye Vannett; sophomores Larry Martinez and Ayla Whitehall; juniors Angel Carrillo and Anabelle Fessenden; and seniors Jeff Margret, Gage Mannor, Jaymes Conklin and Azaliah MacDonald. The 2025 homecoming king and queen will be crowned during halftime of the varsity boys basketball game Friday, Feb. 7, against Bear Lake. The night will feature a doubleheader with both the boys and girls teams playing against the Lakers. The girls game begins at 6 p.m., followed by the boys game. Walkerville’s youth rec cheerleaders will perform during halftime of the girls’ basketball game. The homecoming dance is set for Saturday, Feb. 8, from 8-11 p.m. at the Walkerville Wesleyan Church. “They have been really awesome about letting us us

Wildcat News is a presentation of Walkerville Public Schools in partnership with Oceana County Press.  By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor WALKERVILLE — A new Wildcat mascot costume replaces its decades-old predecessor and is igniting school spirit at Walkerville Public Schools. The retired mascot has now become an artifact and was donated to the Walkerville Pioneer House museum, said Walkerville Public Schools Superintendent/Principal Joe Conkle. “The athletic boosters were kind enough to put in half (of the funds) and meet us halfway,” said Conkle. “They recognized the importance of having it, too.” The mascot, which cost approximately $2,000, is expected to be used for decades to come. “We hope to get as much life out of this one as we did the last one.” The mascot cheers on the Wildcats at home basketball games and other events and also visits elementary classrooms for story time with the young students. “The Wildcat reads to our younger kids.” Sophomore Izy Ashbrook dons the costume mos

Pirate News is a presentation of Hart Public Schools in partnership with Oceana County Press. By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor HART — Students at Spitler Elementary School made 778 Christmas cards that were sent to Michigan National Guard soldiers thanks to their connection with Hart Police Officer and National Guard soldier Andrew Moore. Moore, who belongs to the 210th Military Police Battalion based in Taylor, Michigan, has served in the National Guard for nine years. He has been an officer with the Hart Police Department for four years. “The cards are going to be distributed to part of the battalion and to our companies that we oversee,” said Moore. The day that Moore picked up the cards to send out to his fellow soldiers, he wore his military fatigues instead of his police uniform.   “Every grade level jumped on board,” said Spitler Principal Brandon Bruce. “Officer Moore came in and pitched this idea, and we threw a challenge out to our teachers and kids. Some of the kids made multiple ca

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor LEAVITT TOWNSHIP — A 34-year-old Walkerville woman was arrested for the alleged assault of a 44-year-old Walkerville man Friday, Nov. 15, shortly after 10:30 a.m. in the 5400 block of East Deer Road, according to Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast. The victim remains hospitalized with “extensive injuries,” said Sheriff Mast. “We are led to believe it was an edged weapon” used in the assault, he said. Markie Marie Castillo, of 5481 Deer Rd., was arraigned Monday in Oceana County’s 79th District Court on charges of assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder; and assault with a dangerous weapon. Castillo’s bond was set at $500,000/cash. The case remains under investigation. “Our detectives continue to work on this,” said Mast. “All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty.” Assault with intent to murder is punishable by up to life in prison; assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murde

Wildcat News is a presentation of Walkerville Public Schools in partnership with Oceana County Press.  By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor WALKERVILLE — Military veterans were honored during a program at Walkerville Public Schools on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Students, staff and community members gathered in the middle school gym Monday morning to pay tribute to the brave men and women of the US military. Speakers included Walkerville Superintendent and Principal Joe Conkle, who is an Army veteran, and Col. Brian Burrell of the Army National Guard, who is a Walkerville High School alumnus. Burrell presented a Commander’s Challenge Coin, which is a sign of recognition and appreciation, to retired Walkerville teacher David Van Horn. Van Horn, who is an Army veteran, is a basketball coach and substitute teacher at Walkerville. He served in the military during the Vietnam War. Conkle served nine years in the Army — three active and six in the National Guard. He was deployed to Iraq in 2008. “Taps” was play

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor HART — A 61-year-old West Virginia man faces a 25-year mandatory minimum prison term after a jury found him guilty of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC) and second-degree CSC in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court Wednesday, Nov. 6. The jury deliberated for 17 minutes before coming back to the courtroom with a guilty verdict for Charles Vernon Alltop, said Oceana County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Bizon. The trial lasted one day. The victim in the case was an 8-year-old girl, who is now 16, said Bizon. “The incident occurred around her eighth birthday,” he said. “The assault occurred between Pentwater Township and Crystal Township. Due to the age of the victim and children’s understandable difficulties with arbitrary geographical boundaries, this was not well defined.” Alltop, who was extradited from West Virginia, and been lodged in the Oceana County Jail since. “I am very happy for the victim,” said Bizon. “From the very beginning of this case, s

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor SHELBY —  Former Shelby High School teacher and varsity boys soccer coach Jairo Coronado was sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years probation in Newaygo County’s 27th Circuit Court Monday, Oct. 28, for a felony conviction of using a computer to commit a crime. Coronado, 40, pleaded guilty to the charge Aug. 26. One felony count of accosting a child for immoral purposes was dismissed. Coronado’s online court file indicates that he pleaded guilty to accosting a child, and the charge of using a computer to commit a crime was dismissed. However, Coronado’s attorney Andrew LaPres said the opposite occurred, and the file is incorrect. Accosting a child for immoral purposes and using a computer to commit a crime are each punishable by up to four years in prison. Coronado was arrested in a sting operation involving a multi-jurisdictional task force including the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  “The operation was set to target consumers of human trafficking/sextorti