West Shore Bank hires new credit officer.

December 17, 2014
West Shore Bank hires new credit officer.

LUDINGTON — West Shore Bank has announced the addition of Thomas Rinness as vice president, credit officer. In this role Rinness will oversee and manage the commercial loan processing, credit department, retail credit administration and collection departments. “Tom’s experience and industry knowledge make him a valuable addition to the West Shore Bank team,” said Raymond Biggs, president and CEO. Rinness’…

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Snowblower stolen

December 17, 2014
Snowblower stolen

HAMLIN TWP. — Troopers from the Hart post of the Michigan State Police are investigating a snowblower larceny reported Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 12:10 p.m. in the 2000 block of North Lena Drive. MSP also responded to a gas drive-off Tuesday at 7:25 p.m. in the 5000 block of West US-10. Fuel valued at $33 was stolen. The MSP Report…

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Ludington man arrested for bomb threats of nursing home.

December 17, 2014

LUDINGTON — A 21-year-old Ludington man was arrested Tuesday for making a bomb threat to a nursing home. Ludington Police Department was called to Tendercare of Ludington, 1000 E. Tinkham Ave. at 10:45 a.m. for a threats complaint related to a domestic dispute. According to LPD Chief Mark Barnett, the officer determined the suspect made threats to come to the…

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Police respond to 3rd incident in a week at Walmart

December 17, 2014
Police respond to 3rd incident in a week at Walmart

PERE MARQUETTE TWP. — Mason County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a retail fraud complaint at Walmart, at 4854 W. US-10, Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 5:13 p.m. Warrants are being requested for three subjects in Tuesday’s incident who were identified during the investigation, police said. It is the third time in a week that police have been called to Walmart. Deputies…

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Last day in court for Judge Cooper.

December 16, 2014
Last day in court for Judge Cooper.

LUDINGTON — Judge Richard I. Cooper held his last day in court as the 51st Circuit Court judge Tuesday. He has servd on the bench in Mason County since 1979. Typically, the day is split between civil and criminal cases. Today’s docket was limited to criminal cases, mostly sentencings. Those sentencings were reported here on Mason County Press. Following adjournment,…

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Obit: Ralph Zwiesler, 85, Free Soil.

December 16, 2014

Ralph G. Zwiesler, aged 85 of Frees Soil passed away on December 15, 2014 at West Shore Medical Center in Manistee. Ralph was born on October 15, 1929 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of Joseph and Ruth (Winnie) Zwiesler, attended Milford High School in Detroit, and served his country with the United States Army during the Korean Conflict.  Ralph worked 38…

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Free Soil man sentenced up to a year in jail for attempted CSC with minor.

December 16, 2014
Free Soil man sentenced up to a year in jail for attempted CSC with minor.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — A 22-year-old Free Soil man was sentenced to one year in jail for having a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old girl. Joseph Michael Cook, of 8010 N. Custer Rd., appeared in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday. Cook was arrested Aug. 20 by Mason County Sheriff’s Office and charge with three counts of criminal sexual conduct…

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Ludington man to serve 6-30 years in prison for B&Es of area businesses.

December 16, 2014
Ludington man to serve 6-30 years in prison for B&Es of area businesses.

  By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — A Ludington man who broke into several Amber Township businesses, sold drugs and jumped bail, will serve the next 6 to 30 years in prison. Raymond Allen Anthony, 37, of 202 W. Fitch St. was sentenced today in 51st Circuit Court for the October 2013 breaking and entering of Amber Township businesses Alway’s…

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Two men sentenced to jail for felony drug charges.

December 16, 2014
Two men sentenced to jail for felony drug charges.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — Two men were sentenced on drug possession charges this afternoon in 51st Circuit Court. Austin Martin Billings, 21, of 212 E. Melendy St., Apt. 3, was initially charged with two felony drug charges following a Sept. 19, 2014 arrest by Ludington Police Dept. Bryan Patrick Lund, 28, of 195 Monroe St., Apt. A, Manistee,…

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Plainwell man sentenced for stealing from church.

December 16, 2014
Plainwell man sentenced for stealing from church.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — A 17-year-old Plainwell man who broke into a downtown Ludington church was sentenced to one year in jail today during 51st Circuit Court. On Nov. 12, Marek Juergen Witkowski, of 633 Brigham, Plainwell, pleaded guilty to safe breaking and larceny of Greater Life Church, 208 S. James St. Witkowski was arrested Sept. 26 by…

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Manistee couple arrested on fraud warrants; stolen car mix-up top sheriff activity

December 16, 2014
Manistee couple arrested on fraud warrants; stolen car mix-up top sheriff activity

HAMLIN TWP. — A 52-year-old Manistee woman and a 54-year-old Manistee man, who are husband and wife, were arrested by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office Monday, Dec. 15, at 8:49 a.m. in the 1900 block of Lakeshore Drive on warrants issued by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The woman was arrested on a felony fraud and a misdemeanor contempt of…

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Welcome to the world! Recent births.

December 16, 2014
Welcome to the world! Recent births.

Birth announcements are sponsored by ABC Kidz/Purple Monkey, 123 E. Ludington Ave. Check them out here on Facebook.  Welcome to the world! Cain Jadiel Hernandez, the son of Guadalupe and Rodolfo Hernandez Jr. of Ludington, was born Dec. 8, 2014 at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital. Adalynn Rae Hilton, the daughter of Sara and Robert Hilton of Pentwater, was born Dec. 8, 2014…

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Hospital staff assists public with Affordable Care Act.

December 16, 2014

LUDINGTON — Spectrum Health staff worked with nearly 50 families this past Saturday from Mason, Oceana, Lake and Manistee counties to explain options to help them choose between the various plans available to them for health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act. They also made appointments for additional enrollment help, and assisted people with how to sign up for…

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Rainy today with snow showers tonight.

December 16, 2014
Rainy today with snow showers tonight.

The weather is brought to you by Urka Auto Center, 3736 W. U.S. 10, Ludington, www.urkaautos.com. Sunrise: 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014: Rain showers before 4 p.m., then rain and snow showers likely. Temperature falling to around 36 by 5 p.m. Breezy, with a light and variable wind becoming north northwest 19 to 24 mph in the afternoon. Chance of…

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Cops help make Christmas special for some area children.

December 15, 2014
Cops help make Christmas special for some area children.

VIDEO HERE. By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief.  PERE MARQUETTE TWP. — Thirty children got to shop with an area police officer Monday night during the Shop with a Cop program. The popular program has been lapse for a couple of years but is being revived this year by Ludington Police Officer Tony Kuster. Ten children were selected from each of the county school…

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Branch robbery may be related to Muskegon County robbery.

December 15, 2014
Branch robbery may be related to Muskegon County robbery.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief.  BRANCH TWP. — Investigators from Michigan State Police are trying to determine if a Saturday night armed robbery at a northeastern Muskegon County store and Friday night’s armed robbery in Branch are related. Det. Lt. David Johnson of the MSP Hart post said the Bailey Grocery Store, located just south of the Newaygo County line, was…

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Ludington man arrested for parole violation

December 15, 2014
Ludington man arrested for parole violation

AMBER TWP. — A 41-year-old Ludington man was arrested for a parole violation by troopers from the Hart post of the Michigan State Police Saturday, Dec. 13, at 4:40 p.m. in 100 block of North Stiles Road. MSP troopers also responded to a car-deer accident Sunday, Dec. 14, at 8:55 a.m. at U.S.-31 and Meisenheimer Road overpass in Summit Township.…

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‘Tis the season for scamming.

December 15, 2014
‘Tis the season for scamming.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. HART — After a utility bill scam was reported earlier this month in Mason County, now Oceana County law enforcement is receiving similar complaints. Hart Police Chief Dan Leimback said he has received two complaints today, Dec. 15, of an apparent phone scam that involves callers fraudulently claiming to be City of Hart employees seeking…

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