Welcome to the world! Recent births reported Jan. 20, 2016.

January 20, 2016
Welcome to the world! Recent births reported Jan. 20, 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.  Raelynn Anderson Moored, the daughter of Cathy and Lon Moored of Ludington, was born Jan. 15, 2016. David Kian Russell Patterson, the son of Tiera Pierce and Thayne Patterson of Ludington, was born…

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Recent death, reported Jan. 20, 2016.

January 20, 2016

The Rev. Merritt Bongard, 72, of Ludington died suddenly on Tuesday, January 19. Funeral arrangements are pending at Wyman Funeral & Cremation Services – Stephens Funeral Home, Scottville. See MCP death notice archives here.

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Protecting our kids — a coordinated effort.

January 19, 2016

Editorial by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. On Dec. 14, 2012, Mason County Sheriff-Elect Kim Cole was driving home from the Michigan State Sheriff’s Association Sheriff School. Kim had been elected just over a month prior to that, after spending over 25 years as a road deputy. He received a phone call from then-Custer Fire Chief John Allison (who has since passed away).…

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Congressman speaks out against President’s gun control plan.

January 19, 2016
Congressman speaks out against President’s gun control plan.

Letter to the Editor, by Rep. Dan Benishek, Michigan’s 1st Congressional District.  Some of the fondest memories of my youth involve heading out into the woods western Upper Peninsula to hunt with friends and family.  My father had been killed in a mining accident when I was a kid, but I learned to hunt and shoot from people in our community…

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No bomb found; Covenant Christian School will be open Wednesday.

January 19, 2016

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. AMBER TOWNSHIP — Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole has given the all clear at Covenant Christian School. The school received a bomb threat about noon today. At 4:57 p.m. the school texted its staff and parents stating the sheriff had declared the school safe and that school is scheduled to resume Wednesday, Jan. 20. A bomb…

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Man pleads guilty to embezzlement from vulnerable adult.

January 19, 2016
Man pleads guilty to embezzlement from vulnerable adult.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — A 53-year-old Riverton Township man pleaded guilty in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Jan. 19, to embezzlement from a vulnerable adult and stealing/retaining a financial transaction device without consent. In exchange for Dean Alan Drake’s guilty pleas to the two counts, two other counts of stealing/retaining a financial transaction device without consent were dismissed.…

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Man pleads guilty to attempted home invasion, burglar tool possession.

January 19, 2016
Man pleads guilty to attempted home invasion, burglar tool possession.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — A 42-year-old Amber Township man pleaded guilty in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Jan. 19, to possession of burglar tools and attempted first-degree home invasion. Jeffery Thomas Nitz, of 3786 W. Forest Hill Circle, testified that last November he used a drywall scraper to pry open a door in the 3700 block of Forest…

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Bomb threat at Covenant Christian School may not have been isolated. Threats reported throughout Midwest.

January 19, 2016

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. AMBER TOWNSHIP — Today’s bomb threat to Covenant Christian School may be part of a national spoof. The school, located at 2980 W. U.S. 10-31, received a bomb threat shortly after noon today. National news agencies have reported that dozens of bomb threats have taken place today in the Midwest and Northeast, via telephone. Reuters reported…

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Christian school receives bomb threat.

January 19, 2016
Christian school receives bomb threat.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. AMBER TOWNSHIP — Covenant Christian School was evacuated this afternoon after the school received a bomb threat. School staff contacted Mason-Oceana 911 at 12:07 p.m. and the school was immediately evacuated while emergency personnel responded to the school at 2980 W. U.S. 10-31. Students and staff were bused to Mason County Reformed Church at U.S. 10-31…

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Slippery roads cause crashes.

January 19, 2016
Slippery roads cause crashes.

Recent local law enforcement activity includes: Friday, Jan. 15, 2016: – 10:15 a.m., (Michigan State Police, Hart post), rollover crash, no injuries, Stiles and Meisenheimer roads, Riverton Township. Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016: – 1 p.m., (MSP), two-car crash, minor injuries, Meyers Road and US 10, Pere Marquette Township. – 7:25 p.m., (MSP), car/deer crash, Custer and Kinney roads, Eden Township.…

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Recent death, reported Jan. 19, 2016.

January 19, 2016

Thomas Wencil Peplinski, 80, of Ludington passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 17, 2016 at home with family by his side. Arrangements by Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Ludington. See MCP death notice archives here.

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Scottville boards to review Main Street parking.

January 18, 2016

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. SCOTTVILLE — Scottville City Commission is going to review parking times in the 100 blocks of Main Street. During the commission’s Jan. 4 meeting, it passed a resolution to limit the parking times on the west side of the 100 block of North Main Street to two hours. Since that time, City Attorney Tracy Thompson has…

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25th Family AfFAIR is March 19.

January 18, 2016
25th Family AfFAIR is March 19.

SCOTTVILLE — The 25th Annual Family AfFAIR will be held Saturday, March 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Mason County Central High School. Every year, hundreds of people from local businesses and community agencies get together to provide a free, whole day of fun for local families. Over 55 groups and organizations each year bring intriguing and entertaining…

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Police seek domestic assault charges against knife-wielding woman.

January 18, 2016
Police seek domestic assault charges against knife-wielding woman.

BRANCH TOWNSHIP — A 27-year-old Fountain woman who was wanted on an outstanding felony warrant for larceny from a building may also face charges of aggravated domestic assault and tampering with an electronic communication device following an incident Sunday, Jan. 17, at 4:06 a.m. in the 100 block of South Stephens Road, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. Police…

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Closings, cancelations for Monday, Jan. 18, 2016.

January 17, 2016

Closings and cancelations are sponsored by Abrahamson’s Towing of Ludington: 231-843-2990. Monday, Jan. 18, 1016: Mason County Central Schools. Ludington Area Schools. Ludington Area Catholic.  Mason County Eastern Schools. West Shore ESD and CTE. Pentwater.  Covenant Christian School.

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Ice rescue training.

January 17, 2016
Ice rescue training.

    Video by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.  RIVERTON TOWNSHIP — Today’s weather was cold, windy and snowy, but that didn’t stop members of the Riverton Township Fire Department from spending their Sunday afternoon wading in North Oxbow Lake, training for an ice rescue. Several area fire departments, along with the U.S. Coast Guard, are trained in ice rescue. “Our coverage…

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1 injured on US 10

January 17, 2016
1 injured on US 10

  PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — A Custer woman was injured during a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 10 about 1:10 p.m. The crash occurred when a west bound Chevrolet pickup lost control and struck an eastbound Dodge pickup truck head on.  The woman was a passenger in the eastbound Dodge. The drivers of the two vehicles were not injured. Responding to the…

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Crash victims back home, continue to recover.

January 17, 2016
Crash victims back home, continue to recover.

The two children involved in a two vehicle crash last week on U.S. 10 are back home. Father Wayne Wheeler of St. Simon Church shared a posting on his Facebook page from a family member of 5-year-old Emmett VonSprecken and his 6-year-old sister Abigale. The post stated the children came home Saturday, after being at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital since…

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