Hardman Construction donates pit for beach bonfires.

June 6, 2016
Hardman Construction donates pit for beach bonfires.

LUDINGTON — The Ludington Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, which sponsors the Sunset Beach Bonfires that start this Saturday at Stearns Park beach, was the recipient of a “new” fire pit last week.  The crew at Hardman Construction took input from Ludington Department of Public Works and the Ludington Fire Department (which manages the fire pit and actual bonfires) on what…

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Summer kicks off in Scottville with Celebrating Success, band shell concert.

June 6, 2016

SCOTTVILLE — The merchants of Scottville are holding the town’s third annual Celebrating Success event Tuesday afternoon from 4 to 7 p.m. The event will showcase Scottville area merchants, who will be set up at tables along Main Street in downtown Scottville. It also includes giveaways, beer tasting, hotdogs, children’s crafts and entertainment by Cats “N” Jammers. The event is sponsored…

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Tip leads to sex offender living in tent.

June 6, 2016
Tip leads to sex offender living in tent.

SCOTTVILLE — Working off an anonymous tip through “Offender Watch,” Mason County Sheriff’s deputies located a 26-year-old Mason County man who was allegedly violating the Sex Offender Registry. He was residing in a tent in a local campground and using a Facebook page under another name Friday, June 3, at 10 p.m. in the 200 block of South Columbia Street,…

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Celebration of life for Susan Kaiser.

June 6, 2016

SCOTTVILLE — A celebration of life will be held in memory of Susan (Sue) Kaiser of Scottville, who passed away on May 5, 2016. The celebration will be on June 25 at the Scottville Area Senior Center, 140 S. Main St. from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a luncheon included. Friends are invited to attend to share memories and…

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Shaken, not stirred.

June 5, 2016
Shaken, not stirred.

Today we begin a new weekly blog series titled “Shaken, Not Stirred” by Jim Bond. For over two decades, this veteran broadcaster was the producer and host of radio talk shows in Houston, Texas, St. Louis, Columbia, Jefferson City and Kansas City, Missouri; and Louisville, Kentucky. These programs ranged from light-hearted call-in programs to in-depth conversations with artists, authors, leaders…

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Life in Circles: Giving birth to change.

June 4, 2016
Life in Circles: Giving birth to change.

Life In Circles by Stephanie Wagner. Sponsored by Pro-Master Carpet Cleaning, 231-757-9061, promastercarpetcleaning.com. There are moments in all of our lives where we simply refer to “before” and “after”. We may not know it at the time, but they are the game changers, the forks in the road, the defining moments. For Tracey Chapman, like many other women, it began when…

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Obituary: Steven “Okie” Eschels, 59, Homestead, Florida, formerly of Scottville.

June 4, 2016
Obituary: Steven “Okie” Eschels, 59, Homestead, Florida, formerly of Scottville.

Steven (Okie) Eschels, 59, of Homestead, Florida passed away suddenly on Friday, May 27, 2016.  He was born on November 16, 1956 in Ludington, the son of Arno and Shirley Eschels. Okie was an avid Detroit Tigers, Red Wings and Lions fan and he enjoyed making bets with his family on pretty much any sporting event.  He was a skilled…

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Caring for aging parents.

June 4, 2016
Caring for aging parents.

The Financial Minute is sponsored by Shelby State Bank with offices in Oceana, Mason, Manistee and Muskegon counties: www.shelbybank.com. Thanks to healthier lifestyles and advances in modern medicine, there are more Americans over the age of 65 than there have ever been. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that by 2050, more than 20 percent of U.S. residents will be aged 65…

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Alabama man arraigned on CSC charges; local man, woman arrested on drug charges.

June 3, 2016
Alabama man arraigned on CSC charges; local man, woman arrested on drug charges.

The court news is sponsored by Emelander Law Firm, PC, serving Oceana, Mason and Newaygo counties. Office: 231.303.5005; Cell: 231.303.0905. www.emelanderlaw.com. By Alan Neushwander. Contributing Writer. LUDINGTON – The following were arraigned recently in 79th District Court: Felonies – Mark Alan Saporita-Fargo, 46, 5971 County Road 30, Monroeville, Alabama, was arrested May 29 by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office on…

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79th District Court sentencings.

June 3, 2016
79th District Court sentencings.

The court news is sponsored by Emelander Law Firm, PC, serving Oceana, Mason and Newaygo counties. Office: 231.303.5005; Cell: 231.303.0905. www.emelanderlaw.com. By Alan Neushwander. Contributing Writer. LUDINGTON — The following were sentenced recently in 79th District Court: – Jerimiah Jack Johnson, 26, 211 E. 12th St., Traverse City, pleaded guilty on May 24 to assault and battery, breaking and entering,…

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Corrections officers complete WSCC certification course.

June 3, 2016
Corrections officers complete WSCC certification course.

VICTORY TOWNSHIP — A group of area corrections officers recently completed West Shore Community College’s Corrections Academy, a Michigan Sheriffs Coordinating and Training Council (MSCTC) approved 160-hour certification program for personnel supervising inmates in county jails. Eleven officers from five counties completed the academy. Two were recognized for their leadership and academic achievement in the corrections academy. Travis Bergquist of…

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Domestic, larceny among police activity.

June 3, 2016
Domestic, larceny among police activity.

The following is activity of the Ludington Police Department Thursday, June 2, 2016: – 9:23 a.m., suspicious situation, 400 block of E. Ludington Ave., City of Ludington. – 12:06 p.m., animal complaint, Loomis Street boat ramp, City of Ludington. – 2:12 p.m., domestic assault, 300 block of N. Robert St., City of Ludington. – 4:58 p.m., larceny, 200 block of…

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Obituary: Marvyn Kelsey, 80, Scottville.

June 2, 2016

Marvyn Douglas Kelsey, 80, of Scottville passed away on Tuesday, May 31, 2016 with his family by his side at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids.  Marv, also known as “Honky the Clown” to many throughout the area, was born on July 3, 1935 in Bell Gardens, California, the son of Dr. Max G. and Alice M. (Bowman) Kelsey,…

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Spectrum closing Hadley Center for Behavioral Health; outpatient services will continue at hospital.

June 2, 2016

LUDINGTON — Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital announced today that it will be closing its inpatient psychiatric unit, The Hadley Center for Behavioral Health.   Psychiatrists Stanley Seuferer and Sue Ellen Huffstutter will continue serving the community with outpatient behavioral health care from their medical practice in the hospital’s professional office building, according to a press release from the hospital. All current…

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Jebavy Dr. in Hamlin Twp. to be dedicated in memory of Spc. Joe Lancour.

June 2, 2016
Jebavy Dr. in Hamlin Twp. to be dedicated in memory of Spc. Joe Lancour.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. HAMLIN TOWNSHIP — Along a quiet portion of the north end of Jebavy Drive this morning, a quiet, unofficial ceremony took place. The Mason County Road Commission installed the first of two signs designating Jebavy Drive between Jagger and Barnhart roads as the Army Specialist Joseph Lancour Memorial Drive. Lancour’s parents, Rob and Sue Lancour watched…

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Recent births, reported June 2, 2016.

June 2, 2016
Recent births, reported June 2, 2016.

Recent births are brought to you by Shelby Gem Factory. See more information below.  Births took place at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital, unless indicated otherwise.  Boaz Dennis Armstrong, the son of Trisha and Joshua Armstrong of Ludington, was born May 28, 2016. Jaxson David Curtis, the son of Mandy and Robert Curtis of Ludington, was born May 31, 2016. Wyatt Richard Buck, the son…

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Suspect shoots himself in front deputies.

June 2, 2016
Suspect shoots himself in front deputies.

FREE SOIL TOWNSHIP — A suspect shot himself in a suicide attempt as Mason County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call of a domestic assault Thursday, June 2, at 1:22 a.m. in the 1400 block of East Hoague Road. The suspect was treated for non-life threatening injuries at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital. A report is being forwarded to the…

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Muskegon man dead following US 31 crash.

June 2, 2016

PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — A 51-year-old Muskegon man died Wednesday afternoon following a single vehicle crash on US 31 near the Chauvez Road overpass, according to Michigan State Police Lt. Matt Kanitz. The man was driving a pickup truck northbound on the expressway when the crash occurred at 3:05 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Responding to the scene…

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