Blog Archives

Obituary: Diane Michele Sommerfeldt, 42, of Fountain

May 1, 2025

Diane Michele (Jankoviak) Sommerfeldt (Jankoviak), 42, of Fountain, passed away on Wednesday, April 30, 2025. She was born on February 25, 1983, in Ludington, the daughter of Janet and Scott Jankoviak. A 2001 graduate of Mason County Eastern High School, Diane worked many years as a line cook. On May 19, 2007, she married her husband, Tim. In recent years,…

Read more »

Obituary: Edward T. Chmielewski, 89, of Ludington

May 1, 2025

Edward T. Chmielewski, 89, departed this life on Thursday, May 1, 2025 at home with his wife and partner of 40 years, Barbara (Forgue). Ed is also survived by his son, Edward (Donna); grandson, Alex; daughter in law, Susan (Steinhoff); grandchildren Matthew (Jennifer), Kristyn (Andrew) Heitzman; great grandson Grayson Heitzman; blended family David (Kate Hahn) Forgue; grandson Thomas Forgue. He…

Read more »

Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, White Pine Village to open Saturday

April 30, 2025

Maritime Museum to feature new steam propulsion exhibit By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief The Mason County Historical Society’s two museums, Port of Ludington Maritime Museum and Historic White Pine Village, will open for the season on Saturday, May 3. Attendees will notice some changes at both facilities this year. A new exhibit titled “The Age of Steam” has replaced the long-standing…

Read more »

Shelby State Bank announces promotions

April 30, 2025

SHELBY — Shelby State Bank recently announced three staff promotions. Drew Maus was promoted to vice president and commercial lender. Maus is a graduate of Michigan State University and joined Shelby State Bank’s credit department in 2017. He quickly moved to credit officer, overseeing the credit department. His work on Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans during the pandemic was instrumental…

Read more »

Obituary: Patricia Jean Johnson, 88, of Ludington

April 30, 2025

Patricia Jean (Sniegowski) Johnson, affectionately known as Pat, passed away on Monday, April 28, 2025, at the age of 88 in Ludington, the city where she was born on May 11, 1936. She grew up in Ludington and graduated from Ludington High School in 1954. Patricia dedicated 32 years of her life working as a teacher’s aid, and later advancing…

Read more »