Phillips prelim rescheduled until January

October 15, 2013
Phillips prelim rescheduled until January

LUDINGTON — Sean Michael Phillips waived his right to have a preliminary court hearing within 14 days of arraignment. The hearing, in front of 79th District Court Judge Pete Wadel, has been rescheduled for 9 a.m. on Jan. 9 and 10, 2014. The purpose of the preliminary exam is to determine if there is probable cause to turn the case…

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Woman saved after fall from breakwater

October 15, 2013
Woman saved after fall from breakwater

LUDINGTON — A 62-year-old Ohio woman was saved from Lake Michigan this morning after she fell off the breakwater. The wheelchair-bound woman had fallen off the north pier breakwater after she and her husband stopped to take a picture. Ludington Police Sgt. Matt McMellen said this was their first time visiting Ludington and they were about 75 feet from the…

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Custer Fire Chief was one of the best

October 15, 2013
Custer Fire Chief was one of the best

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. One of Mason County’s bravest passed away Monday night. Custer Fire Chief John Allison is being remembered this morning as one of the best of the best. The 51-year-old Custer Township resident had an apparent cardiac “incident” on October 8. Since that time, he had been at a Grand Rapids hospital. See previous story here. Custer…

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Chief Allison saves lives even in death

October 15, 2013

The following is a statement from the family of Custer Fire Chief John Allison. (See related story) “On October 15th, John Allison, fire chief of the Custer Fire Department went to be with the Lord while surrounded by family and friends. He had been at Meijer Heart Center in the Spectrum Medical Center in Grand Rapids after having complications from…

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Phone systems down again this morning

October 15, 2013

UPDATED at 9:57 a.m.: Full service restored at 911. Many area residents and businesses are reporting that their phone systems are down again this morning. Last night Frontier Communications reported it had been upgrading its system when certain junctions went out. Phil Truan of Frontier said Monday night that the systems should have been restored. Many places are without phone…

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State Park eagle

October 15, 2013
State Park eagle

Reader Julie Hathaway-Henry sent us this photograph she took Monday night of an eagle perched at the Ludington State Park.

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Fall temps today

October 15, 2013
Fall temps today

Superior Electric Outdoor Report. Mason County: Sunny skies with turning cloudy with a 70% chance of rain tonight. High temperatures at 62 degrees F. Showers early tonight with temperatures at 50 degrees F. Humidity: 80%; wind: southeast at 12 mph.

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Phone systems restored, were offline for several hours

October 14, 2013

Phone systems throughout parts of Mason County were down for several hours Monday night, beginning around 6 p.m. The problem was caused by Frontier Communications making upgrades to its system, according to Phil Truan of Frontier. He said the upgrading caused outages but the company has restored the system now. Reports came in that land lines were having issues from…

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Owner of Rath home may be forced to pay for sidewalk repairs

October 14, 2013
Owner of Rath home may be forced to pay for sidewalk repairs

UPDATED: Following a public hearing Monday night, in which no one from the public commented, the Ludington City Council voted unanimously to lien the property owner’s taxes to pay 75% of the cost of sidewalk repairs. LUDINGTON — The Ludington City Council will hold a public hearing tonight to determine if the owner of a house on North Rath Avenue…

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Obit: Gay Christiansen, 83, Ludington

October 14, 2013
Obit: Gay Christiansen, 83, Ludington

Gay Ellen Christiansen, aged 83 of Longfellow Towers, Ludington, passed away on Friday, October 11, 2013. Gay was born on July 1, 1930 in Muskegon, the daughter of Glen and Eva (Hughes) Morse, and married Clarence “Clay” Christiansen on May 23, 1952. Clay preceded her in death in 1994. Together they operated Scottville Floor Covering for many years until Clay…

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Scottville Optimists to hold chili cookoff, veterans lunch, Thanksgiving

October 14, 2013

SCOTTVILLE – The Scottville Optimist Club will hold the following events during the month of November: Chili Cookoff. Saturday, Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. at the Scottville Optimist Hall, behind West Shore Bank. Prizes will be awarded to the top three picks. To participate in the cookoff call Diane Watts 231-462-3623. Entry fee is $5, which will be accumulated and added to…

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Badger says goodbye to 2013

October 13, 2013
Badger says goodbye to 2013

LUDINGTON — The S.S. Badger made its final crossing of the 2013 season Sunday night. Dozens of cars honked in response to the Badger’s horn announcing its season is done. This season has been full of good news for the 60-year-old ship and its parent company, Lake Michigan Carferry. Just last week a federal judge signed a consent decree allowing…

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79th District Court arraignments, as of Oct. 9, 2013

October 12, 2013

By Allison Scarbrough. MCP Correspondent. LUDINGTON — The following were arraigned this week in front of the Mason County Magistrate in 79th District Court. Felonies – Sean Michael Phillips, 23, of MDOC, was arrested Oct. 4 by MCSO for a felony of homicide, open murder. A preliminary exam is set for Oct. 16 at 1 p.m. Bond denied. – Joel…

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79th District Court, as of Oct. 9, 2013

October 12, 2013

By Allison Scarbrough. MCP Corresondent. LUDINGTON – The following defendants were sentenced this past week in 79th District Court: – Melissa Kim Palma, 33, of 7175 Catherine Ave., Fountain, was found guilty Oct. 8 of third-degree retail fraud. She was sentenced to 93 days discretionary jail for one year; must attend Economic Crime Program; and $580 in fines and costs.…

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Ludington man sentenced 2-40 for drugs delivery

October 11, 2013

By Allison Scarbrough. MCP Correspondent. LUDINGTON – The following defendant was sentenced this past week in 51st Circuit Court: – Jaydee Vernon LaFreniere, 30, of 610 N. Harrison St., Ludington, was found guilty Sept. 3 of controlled substance, delivery less than 50 grams, and habitual offender, fourth offense. He was sentenced Oct. 8 to a minimum of two years to…

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Carr community helps build garden to remember boys who drowned

October 11, 2013
Carr community helps build garden to remember boys who drowned

Fundraiser is Saturday. By Stephanie Wagner. MCP Writer. LOGAN TWP. – Carr Settlement is a small close-knit community that straddles the border between Lake and Mason counties. Those who live there place high value on being “neighborly,” with roots that grow deep under 100-year-old farms. Last Spring, a new family, the Troyers, moved into the area, bridging the old farming…

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Temperatures rising today

October 11, 2013
Temperatures rising today

Superior Electric Outdoor Report. Ludington and Pentwater: Sunny with temperatures rising to 73 degrees F; 52 degrees tonight. Humidity: 62%; wind: southeast at 9 mph. Scottville: Sunny with temperatures reaching 72 degrees F; overnight 51 degrees; humidity: 40%; wind: southeast at 8 mph.

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Judge signs Badger consent decree

October 10, 2013
Judge signs Badger consent decree

LUDINGTON — A federal judge has signed the consent decree that will allow the S.S. Badger to operate while its parent company makes the necessary modifications to transport coal ash to a facility on land. Lake Michigan Carferry, on its S.S. Badger Facebook site announced tonight that Federal District Federal District Court Judge Janet T. Neff has signed the decree. “LMC…

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Update: Man driving wrong way on 31 had blood level over .17

October 10, 2013
Update: Man driving wrong way on 31 had blood level over .17

PENTWATER TWP. Oceana County — The driver of the vehicle that caused an accident on U.S. 31 expressway early this morning by driving the wrong way, was arraigned this morning in Oceana County’s 78th District Court on charges of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, having a blood alcohol level of .17 or higher. The legal limit is .08. Nicholas…

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Reformed church scrap metal drive will help mission

October 10, 2013

AMBER TWP. – Mason County Reformed Church Dominican Republic Mission Team will be holding a scrap metal drive Oct. 12 through Nov. 19. The drive will serve as a fund raiser for the team’s upcoming mission trips to Dominican Republic. A Padnos container will be located in the rear parking lot of the church, which is located at the intersection…

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Jazz ensemble kicks off art center season

October 10, 2013
Jazz ensemble kicks off art center season

LUDINGTON – Checkers Morton, a new age/jazz ensemble, will kick off the 2013-2014 Ludington Area Center for the Arts performing arts series Friday, Oct. 11. The ensemble formed in Grand Haven and has been playing together for 40 years. Checkers Morton finds its musical inspiration from the power of Lake Michigan and the power of free music and creates music…

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