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Spartan News is a presentation of Mason County Central School District in partnership with Mason County Press.
By Mark Varenhorst, MCP Contributing Writer
SCOTTVILLE — Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 found me at Mason County Central Schools meeting up with Mason County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Luke Postma, the MCC school resource officer. He drove up in his patrol car from one of the other schools he services. I mentioned having a distance to travel to find me but he did not seem to mind. “My car shows I am here, it’s a presence” said Postma. Indeed, it serves as a reminder to anyone that an officer is nearby.
We met up and went into the Central Business Office and sat for a bit in his office. Postma was born and raised in the Grand Rapids area and graduated from Unity Christian High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in human services from Grace Christian University and following that, he attended Grand Valley State University’s police academy.
Following graduation he worked for the Kent County Sheriff’s Office. Shortly into that career he and his wife made the decision to move to Mason County as they both loved the area and saw it as an ideal place to raise a family. He accepted a position at the Ludington Police Department but during his time there he was offered a chance to join the Mason County Sheriffs Office with the specific focus as serving as a school resource officer. This was at the point when the sheriff’s office was expanding the program from one deputy to four.
Dep. Postma has completed many school safety programs including ALICE -Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate, Run Hide Fight, TEAM – Teaching, Educating and Mentoring.
Postma took me on a nice walk about the high school and it happened to be homecoming week. The decorations in the halls were incredible.
As we went through the buildings, we were at one point near the kindergarten kids at Scottville Elementary as they came in. Postma calls them the “littles”. Most of them were slapping his hand and smiling as they went past. “I enjoy this. I like to build a relationship at an early age” said Postma.
As we went along Postma mentioned there was to be a tractor parade that day and asked if I wanted to ride with him? Heck yes! I had never been in a tractor parade and I was not about to say no. This is strictly a Scottville-type of thing and I did not want to miss it. I cannot remember the last time I saw a tractor parade in Ludington.
As I got in the front of his car, I remembered there is very little room in there for a passenger, at least comfortably, but he had made enough for me to fit. Most passengers end up in the backseat, although in all my years I can honestly say I never had cause to ride there.
We were in our pre-arranged spot on time and you heard the roar of tractors as they formed up behind us. On signal we led off the parade mostly through a few side streets and school grounds. Postma laughed when he saw the “littles” were lined up on the curb to watch the tractors go by. It is obvious to see he has an attachment to them.
Passing through the streets we found Sgt. Adam Lamb, SRO supervisor, and Dep. Jake Lesinski, Mason County Eastern SRO, doing traffic control to keep all the kids safe (story about Lesinski coming soon). The parade was led my MCC High School Principal Jeff Tuka, who walked the parade route.
As we rounded past each of the schools and back near the high school Postma asked “do you think Rob (my boss) is filming this today?” As if on cue l looked and there was my friend and editor on the curb smiling (yup boss here I am working sitting in the car). Finished up that ride and I had been in my first ever tractor parade.
I have to remember to thank Undersheriff Wilson for this assignment. Between the Marine patrol and the School Resource Officer articles I have met some fine people. Yes, Derrek I would love to cover more ideas you have. Mason County is well served by dedicated people. Next year I made a note to myself to ask the principal of the elementary school if I could sit with the ‘Littles’ and watch the tractors go by, and Deputy Postma.
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