Ludington council to decide outdoor dining ordinance tonight

April 22, 2013

LUDINGTON — Ludington City Council is expected to make a decision on the outdoor dining ordinance during its regular meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. The ordinance allows for establishments to have outdoor dining and entertainment/music without receiving special permission from the planning commission. The ordinance had been expected to pass last month but some citizens and business owners had raised concerns…

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Gun control to be discussed at West Shore

April 22, 2013

VICTORY TWP. — On Friday, April 26, West Shore Community College student Shaun Ensign will be leading an event entitled “The Most Delicate Debate: Exploring Gun Control Issues in America.” In the shadow of recent public and school shootings, Shaun will lead a conversation on gun control in America, focusing on the partisanship and issues surrounding today’s ongoing debate.  Audience…

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Trooper Goodrich honored for 25 years of service

April 20, 2013
Trooper Goodrich honored for 25 years of service

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief HAMLIN TWP. – Friends, family and co-workers gathered at Lincoln Hills Country Club Saturday night to pay tribute to Michigan State Police Trooper Dale Goodrich. After 25 years of service, Goodrich retired on March 29. Goodrich, a resident of Mason County’s Grant Township, has served this area as a trooper since 2000, assigned to the MSP…

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Discussing agri-tourism in Mason County

April 19, 2013
Discussing agri-tourism in Mason County

By Rob Alway Editor-in-Chief. AMBER TWP. — Every year tourists flock to the Ludington area to spend time on its beautiful Lake Michigan beaches. But, Mason County offers far more to tourists than just its beaches. The area’s agriculture industry is also a prime target for tourists who want to have an cultural tourism experience. An agri-tourism presentation was held…

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51st Circuit Court

April 19, 2013

Compiled by Allison Scarbrough. MCP Correspondent. LUDINGTON — The following were sentenced this week in 51st Circuit Court: –         Kayla Marie Parish, 20, of 302 Loomis St., Apt. 1, Ludington, was found guilty March 12 of financial transaction device – retain without consent. She was sentenced April 16 to 270 days in jail with credit for 130 days served; must serve…

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Senior employment program applications being accepted

April 19, 2013

LUDINGTON — The Experience Works Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) will be accepting applications on Monday, May 6, 2013, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Michigan Works, 5722 W. U.S. 10 in Ludington.  Program applicants must be age 55 or older, unemployed, live in Mason County, and have incomes of $14,363 per year or less for a family of one…

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79th District Court

April 19, 2013

Compiled by Allison Scarbrough. MCP Correspondent. LUDINGTON — The following were sentenced this week in 79th District Court: – Christopher George Bevier, 28, of 115 W. State St., Apt. 201, Scottville, was found guilty April 8 of operating while impaired by liquor. He was sentenced to one day in jail with credit for one day served; 93 days discretionary jail…

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Arraignments

April 19, 2013

Compiled by Allison Scarbrough, MCP Correspondent LUDINGTON — The following people were arraigned this past week in 79th District Court. –         Alyxander Carl Smith, 29, of 8190 N. Reek Rd., Free Soil, was arrested April 11 by the Ludington Police Department for on two felony counts of financial transaction device. A preliminary exam is set for April 24 at 11:15 a.m.…

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Franklin Elementary principal is new Ludington superintendent

April 18, 2013

LUDINGTON — Franklin Elementary Principal Andrea Large will be the next superintendent of Ludington Area Schools. The board of education met in special session this afternoon to make a final decision following a special meeting Wednesday when three finalists were interviewed. The board unanimously voted to hire Large. During today’s meeting, the board members all agreed that Large and Karen…

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Holman third person to announce mayoral candidacy

April 18, 2013

LUDINGTON — Ludington city councilor Kaye Ferguson Holman has announced she is running for mayor. Holman is the third person to announce they have taken out a petition to run for mayor. The other two people are Dave Kosla and former councilor A. Pete Engblade. “I am announcing that I have taken out a petition and I intend to win,”…

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Ludington may select new superintendent today

April 18, 2013

LUDINGTON — The Ludington Area Schools Board of Education met in special session Wednesday afternoon to hold final interviews with the three superintendent finalists. Interviewed were Karen Sherwood, superintendent/K-12 administrator of Boyne Falls Public Schools; Richard Heitmeyer, superintendent of Buckley Community Schools and Andrea Large, principal of Franklin Elementary in Ludington. The position was left vacant in January when Cal…

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Scottville Main Street kicks off pledge drive

April 18, 2013
Scottville Main Street kicks off pledge drive

SCOTTVILLE — A group of Scottville citizens, business owners and business advocates gathered this morning for a Wake Up Scottville breakfast at the North Country Cafe. The breakfast, coordinated jointly by Scottville Main Street and Ludington and Scottville Area Chamber of Commerce, was an opportunity for those interested in the business climate of the town to meet and talk about…

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Huizenga introduces legislation to aid seniors

April 18, 2013

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02) released the following statement after introducing the Health Freedom for Seniors Act, legislation allowing seniors to roll the required minimum distribution from their retirement accounts directly into a health savings account tax free. “Currently, those who reach age 70 1/2 must begin taking a ‘required minimum distribution’ from their IRAs, 401(k)s and other…

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Former Northwest Bank employee sentenced

April 18, 2013

GRAND RAPIDS — Stacy Lynn Ahlgren, a former employee of Northwestern Bank in Ludington, was sentenced to federal prison for embezzling nearly $1 million from the bank over nearly six years, Mlive.com has reported. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker on Wednesday, April 17, ordered Ahlgren, 39, to prison for 27 months, followed by supervised release for three years. He also…

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Ex-MCE bookkeeper pleads guilty to embezzlement

April 17, 2013
Ex-MCE bookkeeper pleads guilty to embezzlement

LUDINGTON — Robert Crane Bacon, 67, pleaded guilty today in 51st Circuit Court on the charge of embezzlement. Bacon was accused of taking over $96,000 from Mason County Eastern Public Schools while he was employed there as business manager from 2003 to Dec. 31, 2011. “I was employed as a bookkeeper,” Bacon said. “My job was to handle the money…

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Kosla: great things happening in Ludington; running for mayor

April 16, 2013
Kosla: great things happening in Ludington; running for mayor

UPDATED from previous story. LUDINGTON — Ludington resident Dave Kosla has announced that he is going to run for mayor of Ludington. The announcement was made through a Facebook page. Kosla, 32, is a professional musician and works and teaches at Instrumental Music Store in Ludington. “I think some great things have been happening in Ludington the last few years that is…

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Dune grass fire

April 16, 2013
Dune grass fire

PM TWP. — Pere Marquette Township firefighters quickly extinguished a dune grass fire Tuesday on Buttersville Peninsula. The fire came close to striking a cottage, Assistant Fire Chief Ross Kissel said. It occurred off a two track off South Lakeshore Drive.

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Ex-MCE business manager, Bacon, expected to plea

April 16, 2013

LUDINGTON — Robert Bacon, the former Mason County Eastern Schools business manager, is expected to agree to a plea agreement Wednesday in 51st Circuit Court. On March 20 Bacon turned down a plea agreement from the Mason County prosecutor’s office and was scheduled for trial in May. Bacon is charged with one count of embezzlement, and allegedly stole $96,000 when…

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