Miss Ludington Area to compete for Miss Michigan title

May 22, 2026

MUSKEGON — Miss Ludington Area 2026 Ashley McPike will compete for the title of Miss Michigan 2026 during the Miss Michigan Scholarship Program Preliminary Competition June 18-20 at the Frauenthal Center in downtown Muskegon. The finals night coronation is scheduled for June 20. Tickets are available at missmichigan.org. The Miss Ludington Area Board of Directors will host a send-off party…

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Free Soil woman arrested for child abuse, posession of meth

May 22, 2026

GRANT TOWNSHIP — A 38-year-old Free Soil woman was arrested Thursday, May 21, by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office on charges related to child abuse and possession of methamphetamine following a well-being check involving a toddler. Deputies responded to the 1400 block of West Hoague Road after receiving information that reportedly included a video showing the woman smoking methamphetamine while…

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Police news, published May 22, 2026

May 22, 2026

The police news is a presentation of Smith & Eddy Insurance, serving west Michigan since 1902, smith-eddy.com. The Mason County Sheriff’s Office and Ludington Police Department reported the following activity: Thursday, May 21, 2026 12:04 a.m., Mason County Sheriff’s Office, a 57-year-old Stevensville man was arrested for operating while intoxicated, third offense, following a traffic stop, Benson Road north of…

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Obituary: Anthony ‘Tony’ Nelson Cole, 55, of Ludington

May 22, 2026

Anthony “Tony” Nelson Cole, 55, of Ludington, passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2026. Tony was born on Feb. 12, 1971, in Ludington, the son of Charles and Cheryl Cole. He was a graduate of Faith Academy. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army. He was stationed in Fort Sill, Okla., and traveled overseas to Germany. In 1993,…

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Obituary: Neta Jean Jewett, 95, of Ludington

May 22, 2026

Neta Jean Jewett, known affectionately to all as “Jean,” passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at the age of 95. A resident of Ludington, Jean was born on Aug. 9, 1930, in Cheboygan. She was a remarkable woman who stood as a living testament to family history, being the last surviving child of the 18 children born to…

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Recent births, published May 22, 2026

May 22, 2026

The following births have been reported: Iris Kena Dougherty, the daughter of Biorna and Michael Dougherty of Ludington, was born on Thursday, May 21, 2026. Unless indicated, births occurred at Corewell Health Ludington Hospital. List of 2026 births List of 2025 births   __________________________________ Please Support Local News Receive daily MCP and OCP news briefings along with email news alerts for…

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Employment: High School Principal

May 22, 2026

Employment: High School Principal Mason County Central School District is hiring a High School Principal for the 2026-2027 school year. For details and to apply go to www.mccschools.org. Job ID #660 Application deadline: June 5, 2026. This is a paid posting. Published until June 5, 2026. 

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Employment: LRE Special Education Paraprofessional-Ludington

May 22, 2026

Employment: LRE Special Education Paraprofessional-Ludington West Shore Educatoinal Serivce District has a position vacancy for a Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) Special Education Paraprofessional. High School diploma required; 2 years experience preferred. To view a complete job posting, please visit our website at www.wsesd.org.  Send cover letter, resume and credentials to:  Human Resources, West Shore ESD, 2130 W. US 10, Ludington,…

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Mason County Road Commission announces $4.4 million in 2026 road projects

May 21, 2026

SCOTTVILLE — The Mason County Road Commission will invest more than $4.4 million in road improvement projects during the 2026 construction season, including major reconstruction work on South Jebavy Drive and West Vandyke Road. The projects are outlined in the Mason County Road Commission’s 2026 Primary Road Projects brochure, which highlights six major infrastructure efforts planned across the county. The…

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Recovering the fishing boat Sandy

May 21, 2026

Photos submitted by Wayne Dewyer  LUDINGTON — Attempts to recover the sunken commercial fishing boat Sandy have continued this week. Late Wednesday evening, crews were successful getting the bow of the boat out of the water. The boat sank earlier this spring in a channel located on Pere Marquette Lake near the Washington Avenue Bridge. The boat had been docked on…

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Jebavy Drive Bridge to close for maintenance June 1

May 21, 2026

HAMLIN TOWNSHIP — The Jebavy Drive Bridge will close to all traffic beginning June 1 as the Mason County Road Commission begins a preventative maintenance and rehabilitation project expected to continue through Aug. 1. The detour route will use Jagger Road, M-116 and Bryant Road, according to the road commission. The $350,000 project will include replacement of the bridge expansion…

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Woman arrested for OWI after driving 94 mph

May 21, 2026

SHERMAN TOWNSHIP — A 25-year-old Fountain woman was arrested Tuesday, May 19, around 9:40 p.m. for operating while intoxicated following a traffic stop at Sugar Grove and Custer roads where she was stopped after being clocked on the radar at 94 mph in a 55-mph zone, said Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. She was lodged in the Mason County Jail.…

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Central closes regular season with two wins over Benzie Central

May 21, 2026

MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Smith & Eddy Insurance and Michelle and Andrew Thomas. SCOTTVILLE — Mason County Central closed out the regular season in dominant fashion Thursday, sweeping Benzie Central 16-1 and 16-2 in a nonconference softball doubleheader at Spartan Community Field. Payton Cory earned the win in…

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Coopersville sweeps Ludington softball in doubleheader

May 21, 2026

MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Smith & Eddy Insurance and Michelle and Andrew Thomas. COOPERSVILLE — The Ludington Orioles varsity softball team dropped a nonconference doubleheader to Coopersville Thursday, falling 15-0 and 19-0. Madison VanSickle pitched the complete two innings in game one for Ludington, allowing 11 hits and…

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Jury finds woman guilty of parental kidnapping

May 21, 2026

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor LUDINGTON — A jury found a 38-year-old woman guilty of kidnapping—custodial interference, more commonly known as parental kidnapping, in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Thursday, May 21. Amy Lynn Churchill failed to return her 4-year-old son to his father, who is the custodial parent, on Christmas morning in 2023, said Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Beth…

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Woman sentenced to prison for dealing cocaine, meth, fentanyl

May 21, 2026

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor LUDINGTON — A 39-year-old woman was sentenced to prison in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, May 19, for 10 felony counts in connection to dealing drugs. Ashley Lynn Hornacek pleaded guilty March 24 to five counts of delivery/manufacture of cocaine, heroin or another narcotic; one count of conspiracy to deliver/manufacture cocaine, heroin or another…

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Ludington workshop to focus on invasive species control, treatment assistance

May 21, 2026

LUDINGTON — City of Ludington residents will have an opportunity next month to learn more about identifying and treating invasive plant species during a public workshop and neighborhood walk hosted in partnership with North Country Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area. The “Invasive Species Education Workshop and ID Walk” is scheduled for Tuesday, June 10, beginning at 6 p.m. at Ludington…

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Central JV softball splits doubleheader against Pentwater

May 21, 2026

MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Smith & Eddy Insurance and Michelle and Andrew Thomas. PENTWATER — Mason County Central’s junior varsity team split a softball doubleheader with Pentwater Wednesday, losing the opener 9-8 in seven innings before bouncing back for a 10-4 win in Game 2. The Spartans responded…

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MCC posts season-best score at WMC golf jamboree

May 21, 2026

MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Smith & Eddy Insurance and Michelle and Andrew Thomas. WHITEHALL — Mason County Central turned in its best West Michigan Conference Rivers Division jamboree score of the season Thursday at Bent Pine Golf Course in the final conference jamboree of the year. Ravenna won…

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Recent births, published May 21, 2026

May 21, 2026

The following births have been reported: Lillian Marie Schwass, the daughter of Taylor and Lucas Schwass of Scottville, was born on Monday, May 18, 2026. Beckett Alan Graham, the son of Ashleigh and Kenneth Graham of Ludington, was born on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. Unless indicated, births occurred at Corewell Health Ludington Hospital. List of 2026 births List of 2025 births  …

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Woman suffers minor injuries in crash

May 21, 2026

AMBER TOWNSHIP — A 77-year-old Dorr, Mich. woman received minor injuries in a vehicle crash Friday, May 15, around 11:15 a.m. on US 31 near Johnson Road, said Michigan State Police Sgt. Michael Cuevas of the Hart post. She was evaluated at the scene and did not require ambulance transport. _________________________ Please Support Local News and Sports Coverage Receive daily…

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