Jocelyn Garza

By Jocelyn Garza Jgarza@cherryroad The Richland-Logan Fire Department had its entrapment rescue equipment on display during the Ogemaw County Fair. The equipment is used when a person falls into a grain silo and gets stuck. Fire Department Lieutenant Jason Palmer explained there are four panels that come together to form a tube around an entrapped person. Once the panels are placed, responders vacuum the grain from the tube. While some responders are removing the grain, others will place a harness around the person to pull them out of the silo. Palmer said the survivability of an entrapped person depends on…

By Coach Dave Luptowski OHHS Varsity Volleyball Ogemaw Heights varsity volleyball opened the 2023 season with a game against Gaylord Aug. 16. We lost in five sets: scores were 16-25, 16-25, 25-18, 25-19 and lost the last one 4-15. I was really proud of the girls. We went down two sets to none, but they didn’t give up and came back to force a fifth set but came up short. We only had a couple practices before our first game, so we were a little out of shape and it showed in the last set. It was hot in the…

The Ogemaw County Fair was last week, which meant I had a few long and busy days. I kept a journal for each day after the official opening last Monday. I arrived at the fairgrounds Tuesday evening, and it was packed. I had to park behind the Grandstands. I had an hour to kill until the start of the Bump N Run Derby, so I walked around the grounds, taking photos of anything and everything I could. The Bump N Run Derby was fun to watch, and the Grandstands were packed for the event. I will admit, I took advantage…

By Coach Louise Hofer OH Girls’ Swimming and Diving The Ogemaw Heights Girls’ swimming and diving team traveled to Bay City Aug. 18 to compete in the John Glenn Pentathlon. This meet is made up of five events –50 Butterfly, 50 Backstroke, 50 Breaststroke, 50 Freestyle and 100 individual medley. It is a great way to start the season. The events are short and quick, and despite eight teams participating, the meet concluded in under two hours. For incoming freshmen, it was a fun introduction to high school competition and a way for them to bond as a team on…

High levels of E. coli have been found at Skidway Lake in Ogemaw County. Levels of E. coli bacteria exceeded State standards for daily maximums during water sampling conducted in the bathing beach waters at Skidway Lake in Ogemaw County on 8/24/23. All persons are advised to avoid any activity involving full body contact with these waters until sample results have indicated that E. coli levels have returned to acceptable standards. Other beach-related activities, as well as other beaches in Ogemaw County, are not affected by this advisory. For more information, please visit https://www.dhd2.org/bathing-beaches

Before moving home to Michigan, my husband and I lived in Highland Park, IL. I worked only five blocks from where we lived, so I walked to work every day. My route took me through the park where I also walked our dog. Lila liked to stroll, so I would return to the park alone for a more quickly paced fitness walk. Because I used the park daily and at somewhat regular times, I started seeing the same people day after day. Often, we would only smile and greet each other. If we were both walking dogs, we might pause,…

The third annual Rockn’ for Hope Music Fest is set to take place Sept. 9 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. ats Irons Park in West Branch. Exit 212, a local band, and The Godfreys will be the musical acts. The event is hosted by the Coalition of H.O.P.E. During the festival, the coalition will be doing giveaways. Vendors will off resources for mental health and wellness. “The purpose of the event is to raise community awareness of suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention within Ogemaw County,” Angela Torres, Co-Chairperson of the Coalition. The Coalition of H.O.P.E is a grassroots nonprofit…

The Ogemaw County Board of Commissioners faced a hefty agenda at the Aug. 24 committee of the whole meeting. Commissioner Brenda Simmons requested the removal of the discussion on the Administrator-Controller transition and goal setting from the agenda. This request was made because some discussion items will take a lot of time such as quarterly budget adjustments. The county’s purchasing procedure policy was discussed by the board. Under the current policy, the county administrator opens the bids with a witness present. Simmons said this is not transparent; Simmons would rather have the bids opened by the board at the meeting…

A new billboard to draw visitors to West Branch and the surrounding community was unveiled Aug. 28. The project is the idea of business owner Sean Gilbert. Drivers and passengers will see the sign as they approach Exit 212. “I wanted to do something for the community,” he said. “We needed to spur some excitement to get people off the expressway. We are missing opportunities when vehicles drive by our community.” The billboard is dedicated to Ogemaw County, and a tribute to the Noffsinger family. Jim and Jerry Noffsinger put the board up on their property 25 years ago. Due…

The conservation districts of Oscoda, Ogemaw and Roscommon counties hosted Outdoor Extravaganza Aug. 27 at Camp Timbers in Ogemaw County. Families enjoyed activities such as canoeing and kayaking, climbing and fishing, while enjoying a late summer day outdoors.