For communities on the Bolivar Peninsula, this turned out to be a devastating punch to their solo line of defense when it comes to fending back the angry waters of the Gulf of Mexico: sand dunes.

OCEANA COUNTY, Mich. — Oceana County Undersheriff Ryan Schiller spoke on the crash that claimed the life of 20-year-old Braden VanPutten at Silver Lake Sand Dunes on Sunday afternoon.

Lots of rain earlier this year led to a showy display of prairie sunflowers at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Some years, prairie sunflowers (Helianthus petiolaris) deliver a ...