Community members, school staff discuss MCC facility needs.

January 13, 2016
Community members, school staff discuss MCC facility needs.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. SCOTTVILLE — A needs assessment community meeting was held Wednesday night to seek input from Mason County Central Public Schools district residents. A mixture of staff and citizens attended the meeting. They provided a list that ranged from building an auditorium and swimming pool to fixing the heating system in several school buildings and paving the…

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Welcome to the world! Recent births, reported Jan. 13, 2016.

January 13, 2016
Welcome to the world! Recent births, reported Jan. 13, 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.  Connor Lee Sawyer, the son of Shawna Olnhausen of Ludington, was born Jan. 8, 2016. Kaysen John Pancio, the son of Krysta Ghent of Baldwin, was born Jan. 9, 2016. Charlotte Frances Parker, the daughter…

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VFW helps MCE school safety.

January 13, 2016
VFW helps MCE school safety.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.  CUSTER — Custer VFW Gold Bar Post 5096 donated $2,300 towards the door safety program at Mason County Eastern Schools. The donation will purchase 10 Boot devices that will secure doors in the event of an intruder in the school. Nearly all the doors in county schools have been fitted with the device. All the funding has…

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Sheriff’s office responds to non-injury crashes Tuesday as well.

January 13, 2016
Sheriff’s office responds to non-injury crashes Tuesday as well.

The following is activity of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016: – 6:33 a.m., slide-off, no damage/no injury, Pere Marquette Hwy. and Iris Rd., PM Township. – 7 a.m., car/deer crash, no injuries, Jebavy Dr. and Fisher Rd., Hamlin Township. – 6:30 p.m., car/deer crash, no injuries, Fountain and Stephens roads, Sherman Township. The police news is…

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Recent death, reported Jan. 13, 2016.

January 13, 2016

Alfred Bennett, 64, of Free Soil passed away Tuesday, January 12 at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids. Arrangements are pending at Wyman Funeral & Cremation Services – Stephens Funeral Home, Scottville. See MCP death notice archives here.

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Children in critical condition following Tuesday’s crash.

January 13, 2016
Children in critical condition following Tuesday’s crash.

PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — Five-year-old Emmett VonSprecken and his 6-year-old sister Abigale are listed in critical condition Wednesday morning, Jan. 13, at Helen DeVos Hospital Children’s Hospital following a two-vehicle crash Tuesday on US 10 west of Meyers Road, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. The crash occurred at 1:51 p.m. when a 1999 Ford pickup, driven by 48-year-old…

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Here’s the buzz: Beekeepers to meet.

January 13, 2016

SCOTTVILLE — The Scottville Beekeepers of Mason County will hold a meeting on Thursday, Jan. 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. The group was started by beekeeper Lenny Feldberg, with the guidance of Ed Malkowski, a 60-plus year veteran beekeeper and retired Mason County Central administrator. The meeting will be held at the Scottville Area Senior Center, 140 S. Main…

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March for Life is Sunday.

January 13, 2016

LUDINGTON — Right to Life of Mason County’s annual Memorial Service and March for Life will be held Sunday, Jan. 17 at 2 p.m. at Community Church, 109 N. Harrison St. The event commemorates the 43rd anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Roe vs. Wade, allowing the legalization of abortion. The event begins with a 2 p.m. memorial…

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More details on U.S. 10 crash that injured 2 children. Highway reopened. 

January 12, 2016
More details on U.S. 10 crash that injured 2 children. Highway reopened. 

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — More details have been released on the two-vehicle crash that occurred earlier this afternoon on U.S. 10 near the Mason County Fairgrounds. Two children, ages 5 and 6 were seriously injured as a result of the crash, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. The crash involved a 1999 Ford Ranger pickup…

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Obituary: Joseph Betka, 87, Ludington.

January 12, 2016
Obituary: Joseph Betka, 87, Ludington.

Joseph J. Betka, 87 of Ludington passed away on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at his home with his family by his side.  Joe was born on March 25, 1928 in Ludington, the son of Joseph John and Regina (Maternowski) Betka, and served his country during the Korean Conflict with the United States Army.  He retired from Dow Chemical and was…

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Road commission crews will concentrate on highways, major roads tonight.

January 12, 2016

SCOTTVILLE — The Mason County Road Commission has announced that its evening crews will be focusing on state highways and major county roads tonight. “The National Weather Service is forecasting continued dangerous travel conditions with blowing snow over the roadways,” said Wayne Schoonover, manager/director of Mason County Road Commission. “This is creating rapid changes in the road conditions and visibility. Time…

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3 injured in U.S. 10 crash.

January 12, 2016
3 injured in U.S. 10 crash.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.  PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — Two children and an adult were injured during a two vehicle crash on U.S. 10 west of Meyers Road Tuesday afternoon. A witness told MCP he was traveling behind a westbound Ford Ranger when the vehicle appeared to lose control and cross the centerline near the east border of the Mason County…

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VanderWall announces candidacy for 101st State District.

January 12, 2016
VanderWall announces candidacy for 101st State District.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — Curt VanderWall has announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for Michigan’s 101st state representative seat. If elected, VanderWall would be the first Mason County resident to represent the district in decades. VanderWall is currently a Mason County commissioner and was elected this morning as county board chairman. “I’ve been involved with…

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Many crashes on slippery roads, no injuries.

January 12, 2016
Many crashes on slippery roads, no injuries.

The following is local law enforcement activity Monday, Jan. 11, 2016: – 2:40 a.m., (Mason County Sheriff’s Office), one-vehicle crash, no injuries, northbound US 31 off-ramp at Pere Marquette Hwy., PM Township. – 3:33 a.m., (MCSO), one-vehicle crash, no injuries, US 10-31 and Amber Rd., Amber Township. – 7:50 a.m., (Michigan State Police, Hart post), car/deer crash, Sugar Grove and…

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Closings and cancelations for Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2016.

January 11, 2016

Closings and cancelations are sponsored by Abrahamson’s Towing of Ludington: 231-843-2990. Cancelations for Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2016: Due to inclement weather, West Shore Community College’s audition for “Breaking the Code,” scheduled to be heldtonight (Tues. Jan. 12) at the Ludington Center for the Arts, is cancelled. In addition, the college’s Concert Choir rehearsal scheduled for 7 p.m. this evening is cancelled.…

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Fair board considers options for future of large animal auction.

January 11, 2016
Fair board considers options for future of large animal auction.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — The Western Michigan Fair is going to hold a large animal auction this year, though it may not be operated by the West Michigan Large Animal Council. The council’s 501(c)3 non-profit charitable status was revoked in April 2015 by the Internal Revenue Service after failure to file tax reports for three years.…

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Ludington man arrested for fentanyl possession.

January 11, 2016
Ludington man arrested for fentanyl possession.

LUDINGTON — Tyler Joel Griffin, 24, of Ludington was arraigned in 79th District Court on a felony charge of possession of fentanyl, according to a State, Sheriffs’, Chiefs’ Enforcement of Narcotics Team (SSCENT) press release issued Monday, Jan. 11. The crime is punishable by up to four years in prison and/or a $25,0000 fine. Members of the Ludington City Police…

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Controversial Scottville commissioner resigns.

January 11, 2016
Controversial Scottville commissioner resigns.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.  SCOTTVILLE — City Commissioner Ed Hahn has announced he is resigning from the commission. Hahn has been an outspoken opponent of how the city is being administered since he was elected to office in November 2014. Since that time, he has made innuendos that the city’s water and sewer funds have been mismanaged, he has attempted to shut…

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Visniski becomes surgery director at Ludington Hospital.

January 11, 2016
Visniski becomes surgery director at Ludington Hospital.

LUDINGTON — Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital has a new director of surgical services, Bruce Visniski, who has a long history of surgical staff leadership positions in west Michigan. Visniski earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Spring Arbor University, and an associate’s degree from Muskegon Community College. Visniski comes to Ludington from North Ottawa Community Hospital, where he was…

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7 organizations receive nearly $18,000 from Great Lakes Energy People Fund.

January 11, 2016

Seven Mason County organizations have received grants totaling almost $18,000 from the Great Lakes Energy People Fund. During 2015, the People Fund awarded $206,294 in grants to charitable and community organizations. The Great Lakes Energy People Fund is supported solely by Great Lakes Energy members who allow their electric cooperative to round up their bill each month to the next…

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Recent death, reported Jan. 11, 2016.

January 11, 2016

William Lee Kirt, 60, of Ludington passed away on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at Home. Arrangements by Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Ludington.

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