Courts

Contractor ordered to pay back homeowners over $42,000

October 7, 2025

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor HART — A 50-year-old Irons man was ordered in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court Monday, Oct. 6, to pay back over $42,000 to the homeowners, including his former boss, he defrauded. Jason J. Noordhoek pleaded guilty last May to fraudulent use of building contract funds and was sentenced Monday by Judge Susan K. Sniegowski to…

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Woman accused of leading police on high-speed chase with motorcycle 

October 7, 2025

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor LUDINGTON — Katlin Marie Hammond, 32, of Custer was arraigned on charges of fleeing and eluding police, reckless driving and operating without insurance following a high-speed chase Saturday, Oct. 4, which ended after she reportedly struck a police car with the motorcycle she was riding. Hammond was arraigned in Mason County’s 79th District Court Monday,…

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51st Circuit Court sentences, published Oct. 3, 2025

October 3, 2025

LUDINGTON — The following were sentenced recently in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court: – Andrew Leonard Lyewski, 34, pleaded no contest to attempted assault with a dangerous weapon May 21 and received a delayed sentence Sept. 30 of two days in jail with credit for two days served; 11 months probation; and $298 in fines and costs. Charges of assault…

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79th District Court arraignments, published Oct. 3, 2025

October 3, 2025

By Alan Neushwander, Contributing Writer LUDINGTON — The following were recently arraigned in Mason County’s 79th District Court: Felonies -Donald Scott Knowles, 54; possession of a controlled substance — methamphetamine/ecstasy, delivery/manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of a weapon by a prohibited person, two counts of felony firearms, and possession of ammunition by a prohibited person; arrested July 25 by Mason…

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Man’s stalking conviction overturned by court of appeals

October 1, 2025

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor LUDINGTON — A 50-year-old man who was convicted by a bench verdict in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court of aggravated stalking and using a computer to commit a crime‎ February 14, 2024 had his conviction overturned by the State of Michigan Court of Appeals Monday, Sept. 29. Lance Craig Eichler, who was convicted of stalking…

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