2015 was a record year for visitors to Mason County.

March 11, 2016
2015 was a record year for visitors to Mason County.

LUDINGTON — Mason County area hotels reported a record year in rental income in 2015, the Ludington Area Convention and Visitors Bureau announced today. In 2015, Ludington area hotels generated $12.3 million in room rentals, a 3.4 percent increase over 2014 and a 30.3 percent increase compared to five years ago in 2011. Room rental income is one metric to…

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Pentwater preschool roundup takes place March 18.

March 11, 2016

PENTWATER — Pentwater Preschool round-up for the 2016-2017 school years will be held on Friday, March 18, 2016, from 6: to 7:30 p.m. in the preschool classroom.  This year round-up will be during the Pentwater PTCO Spring Carnival.  Families will be able to see the classrooms and meet the teaching staff during this time. Children reaching the age of 4…

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Fire damages Hamlin Twp. house. 

March 11, 2016
Fire damages Hamlin Twp. house. 

  By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.  HAMLIN TOWNSHIP — Fire severely damaged a home on the South Bayou of Hamlin Lake Thursday night. Hamlin and Pere Marquette fire departments were called to the Fred Peterson residence at 6676 W. Mears Rd. about 9:30 p.m. Hamlin Fire Chief Steve Vandervest said the north side of the home was engulfed in flames when the first…

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Safe Harbor Credit Union offers no fee credit card.

March 10, 2016
Safe Harbor Credit Union offers no fee credit card.

Mason County Press is brought to you free 24 hours a day, seven days a week thanks to the generosity of advertisers. Safe Harbor Credit Union of Ludington is one of those great advertisers. At Safe Harbor the motto is the members come first! With this in mind, Safe Harbor Credit Union has the no fee credit card. Perks of…

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Welcome to the world! Recent births reported March 10, 2016.

March 10, 2016
Welcome to the world! Recent births reported March 10, 2016.

Recent births are brought to you by Shelby Gem Factory. See more information about these fine businesses below.  Births took place at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital, unless indicated otherwise.  Tatum Sean Mishler, the son of Abigail Vida and Stephen Mishler of Ludington, was born February 27, 2016. Abram Neil Darrin Sodders, Jr., the son of Janelle Peterson and Abram Sodders, Sr. of Ludington,…

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Apartment fire arson case turned over to feds.

March 10, 2016
Apartment fire arson case turned over to feds.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.  SCOTTVILLE — The investigation of a series alleged arsons at Reinberg Rooms Apartments, 103 N. Reinberg Ave., has been turned over to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Scottville Police Chief Don Riley said the suspect in the case is also being investigated in several suspected arsons that took place in Oceana County. The…

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Lighthouse Keepers looking for volunteers to staff Ludington light.

March 10, 2016
Lighthouse Keepers looking for volunteers to staff Ludington light.

LUDINGTON — The Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association is looking for volunteers to staff the Ludington North Breakwater Lighthouse. The lighthouse will be open for tours from the end of May through Labor Day. Responsibilities include handling money from tours and the gift shop sales, share historical information with visitors, keep the lighthouse clean, welcome visitors as they climb to…

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Suspect gives false name to cop, the name she gives is that of a wanted person

March 10, 2016
Suspect gives false name to cop, the name she gives is that of a wanted person

BRANCH TOWNSHIP — A 36-year-old Newaygo woman was arrested after she allegedly gave a false name to a Mason County Sheriff’s deputy during a traffic stop Wednesday, March 9 at 10:37 p.m. on Benson Road, north of US 10. Unfortunately for the suspect, the name she provided to the deputy was the name of a suspended and wanted person, according…

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Scottville Community Visioning meeting is Tuesday.

March 10, 2016
Scottville Community Visioning meeting is Tuesday.

SCOTTVILLE — The Scottville Downtown Development Authority will hold a Community Visioning Session on Tuesday, march 15, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Scottville Area Senior Center, 140 S. Main St. This is a follow-up to the session that was held in the fall of 2015. The DDA is seeking input with a goal of working towards branding and marketing…

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ESD’s move to consolidate classes upsets some Oceana educators.

March 10, 2016
ESD’s move to consolidate classes upsets some Oceana educators.

   By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. AMBER TOWNSHIP (Mason County) — A recent proposal by the West Shore Educational Service District (WSESD) board of education to consolidate Career Technical Education (CTE) classes to West Shore Community College’s (WSCC) campus in Mason County has caused some Oceana County superintendents questioning the changes. The two programs that are expected to be moved next…

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Obituary: Richard Lemire, 75, Scottville.

March 9, 2016
Obituary: Richard Lemire, 75, Scottville.

Richard LeRoy Lemire, 75, of Scottville passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at Mercy Health Partners in Muskegon.  Richard was born on January 10, 1941 in Ludington, the son of Roy and Blanche (French) Lemire and grew up in the Mason County area with his four sisters and two brothers.  On March 3, 1962 he married Ella Louise…

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Hospital home health care staff receives top honor.

March 9, 2016
Hospital home health care staff receives top honor.

LUDINGTON — The Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital Home Health Care department has earned a 5-star rating for patient experience, the highest possible, on the U. S. Government’s Home Health Compare web site. The exceptional rating resulted from the response of area at-home patients to the care they received from the home health care staff, measured in independent surveys conducted by…

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WSCC to celebrate Pi Day with 3.41 mile walk.

March 9, 2016

VICTORY TOWNSHIP — National Pi Day is Monday, March 14, 2016. Pi Day is traditionally celebrated on March 14 (3/14) because Pi, the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, is approximately 3.1416. This year is particularly special because 3/14/16 includes the first five of Pi’s numerals. In honor of the occasion and as part of its…

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WSCC film and lecture will address LGBT history.

March 9, 2016

VICTORY TOWNSHIP — The West Shore Community College Student Senate, the Academic Projects Team and Haven are sponsoring an historical lecture and a screening of the film “The Imitation Game.” The film will be shown on Wed., March 16, at 2 p.m. and on Mon., March 21, at 7 p.m., the College will welcome Dr. Colin R. Johnson who will present…

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Obituary: Milan “Bud” Reed, 91, Ludington.

March 9, 2016
Obituary: Milan “Bud” Reed, 91, Ludington.

Milan Spencer (Bud) Reed, 91, of Ludington died peacefully Tuesday, March 8, 2016 at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital, surrounded by his devoted wife of 70 years Dorothy Jean and his family. Bud and Dottie lived those 70 years together like two inseparable swans. Though Bud’s health had deteriorated the past three years, he counted his blessings every day, especially the…

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Recent death, reported March 9, 2016.

March 9, 2016

Richard Lemire, 75, of Scottville died Tuesday, March 8.  Arrangements are pending at Wyman & Funeral & Cremation Services – Stephens Funeral Home, Scottville. See MCP death notice archives here.

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Drugged driving arrest, break-in among police activity.

March 9, 2016
Drugged driving arrest, break-in among police activity.

The following is recent local law enforcement activity Tuesday, March 8, 2016: – 2:22 a.m., (Mason County Sheriff’s Office), a 37-year-old Ludington man was arrested for operating under the influence of drugs following a traffic stop, Pere Marquette Hwy. and Conrad Road., PM Township. – 2:08 p.m., (MCSO), one-vehicle crash, no injuries, Stiles and Manales roads, Victory Township. – 2:30…

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Special Olympics teams play districts, one team will move on to state.

March 9, 2016
Special Olympics teams play districts, one team will move on to state.

CALEDONIA — Area 24 Basketball sent 2 teams to district play in Caledonia on March 5, 2016. Both teams played two games apiece in their respective divisions. Area 24 Red Devils played in Division 6 and the Area 24 Tornados played in Division 8. Both teams won their first games. Area 24 Red Devils lost their second game in overtime by 2…

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Ludington man awaiting extradition to New Mexico.

March 9, 2016
Ludington man awaiting extradition to New Mexico.

By Allison Scarbrough. Courts/Police Editor. LUDINGTON — A 40-year-old Ludington man convicted of tether tampering in Mason County is awaiting extradition to New Mexico to face penalties for violating his parole. Eric Zelek Hoggs, of 724 E. Filer St., was ordered by 51st Circuit Court Judge Susan K. Sniegowski to serve 180 days up front of a one-year discretionary jail…

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Tales from the mat: A look at the MHSAA wrestling state finals.

March 9, 2016
Tales from the mat: A look at the MHSAA wrestling state finals.

C Notes: by George C. Wilson. AUBURN HILLS — The Michigan High School Athletic Association conducts the largest high school individual state  wrestling tournament in the nation every year.  For over a decade the MHSAA has taken over the venerable Palace of Auburn Hills, home of the NBA Detroit Pistons, to put on a spectacle unrivaled by any other state athletic…

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Knizacky and Merrick lead the way for Spartans at state wrestling tourney.

March 9, 2016
Knizacky and Merrick lead the way for Spartans at state wrestling tourney.

By George C. Wilson, contributing writer. AUBURN HILLS — The Mason County Central Spartans concluded the 2015-2016 wrestling season this past weekend with seniors Spencer Knizacky and Logan Merrick leading a group of five teammates to the Palace in Auburn Hills seeking medals in the MHSAA Division 4 individual state wrestling championships.  Both Spartan seniors earned individual medals. Logan Merrick…

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