LUDINGTON — A pre-trial conference for Marshall Jennings Brault, 19, has been adjourned until May 7. Brault, 606 N. Gaylord Ave., was arraigned in Mason County on arson charges earlier this year. He and Travis Malone allegedly committed both the arson and the breaking and entering. Both are charged for the Oct. 17, 2012 arson of the house located at…
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. CUSTER TWP. — Greg Robison was working in his pole barn when he came out to see smoke coming from his house. He called 911 and started getting his animals and possessions out of the house at 1489 S. Darr Rd. Flames were initially reported to be showing at the time of the call, shortly before 2…
GRAND RAPIDS – The sentencing of Stacy Lynn Ahlgren, a former employee of Northwestern Bank in Ludington, was postponed until April 17 at 2 p.m. in Grand Rapids federal court. Ahlgren pleaded guilty to embezzlement in December 2012. The longtime bank employee took nearly $900,000 from the bank over five years. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker placed Ahlgren on…
LUDINGTON — Mark McCallum, who was found guilty on March 1 of two counts of parental kidnapping, will be sentenced today in 51st Circuit Court. McCallum legally represented himself in the weeklong trial. The charges stemmed from the February 2012 abduction of his then 2-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter. McCallum did not return the children to his estranged wife —…
Riverton Township farmer Arthur Lister has been appointed to the Michigan Apple Committee by Gov. Rick Snyder, according to the website Northwest Michigan’s Second Wave. Lister is the owner of Lister Orchards. Lister’s 900 acre farm produces apples, tart cherries, sweet cherries, peaches, pears and plums. He will be the new representative for District 5, replacing Scott Lewis. Lister is…
The quarterly verification period for tier 3 sex offenders began April 1. During this period, state law requires all tier 3 registered offenders to report in person to their local police department, sheriff’s office, or nearest Michigan State Police post to verify their address. The Michigan Sex Offenders Registration Act requires tier 1 offenders to verify their address annually, during…
LUDINGTON — The Mason County Board of Commissioners is expected to pass a resolution supporting the proposed Great Lakes Technology Park tonight during its regular meeting. The State of Michigan has issued a request for proposals provide data hosting facilities to house essential electronic data that will enable the state government to better serve its citizens. The proposal request includes…
LUDINGTON — The Ludington City Council approved an agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation during its regular meeting Monday night. Construction work on building a new bridge is scheduled to begin in late May or early June. City Manager John Shay construction is expected to be completed sometime before the end of the year. MDOT’s Local Bridge Fund will…
LUDINGTON — The City of Ludington Buildings and Licenses committee will meet Thursday at 3:30 p.m. to discuss downtown noise levels. The discussion stems from the request of some downtown merchants who complained the 90 decibel sound level being proposed in the new outdoor dining ordinance is too loud. During the March 19 city council meeting Nate Petersen, owner of Backstage…
LUDINGTON — The PM 41 barge and its tug boat The Undaunted left Ludington harbor for the first time this shipping season Monday afternoon. The barge was heading to Burns Harbor, Ind. to pick up a load of steel slag for Rieth-Riley’s Ludington operation. The trip is also the first for the tug’s new engines. The tug and barge are…
AMBER TWP. — The public is invited to attend a presentation on the future of Agri-Tourism in Mason County on April 18th at 7 p.m. at the Mason County Reformed Church at 45 South Amber Road. The panel will address value-added products and experiences and its effects on business. All agricultural-related businesses and interested individuals are invited to attend. Panelists…
LUDINGTON — Mason County will soon have a part-time seasonal employee whose purpose will be to monitor the flicker caused by wind turbines in the Lake Winds Energy Park in Riverton and Summit townships. The county commission is expected to approve the $2,500 a year position at its regular meeting Tuesday night. Zoning and Building Director Mary Reilly told the…
LUDINGTON — Dennis Dunlap is expected to be appointed to the Mason County Planning Commission Tuesday during the regular meeting of the Mason County Board of Commissioners. Dunlap was selected among four people who were interviewed last week in front of the county’s Buildings, Planning, Drains and Airport committee. He is the president of Westshore Engineering of Muskegon and resides…
GRAND RAPIDS – Stacy Lynn Ahlgren, a former employee of Northwestern Bank in Ludington, is scheduled to be sentenced today at 2 p.m. in Grand Rapids federal court. Ahlgren pleaded guilty to embezzlement in December 2012. The longtime bank employee took nearly $900,000 from the bank over five years. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker placed Ahlgren on a $50,000…
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief FOUNTAIN — Five fire departments battled a fire north of the village this afternoon. Fountain Area and Free Soil/Meade fire departments were called to the Bob Peters and Marie Chellis residence, 5514 N. Poplar Road, around 5 p.m. for a pole barn fire. The barn and a single-wide unoccupied mobile home were fully engulfed in flames.…
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief FOUNTAIN — Five fire departments battled a fire north of the village this afternoon. Fountain Area and Free Soil/Meade fire departments were called to the Bob Peters and Marie Chellis residence, 5514 N. Poplar Road, around 5 p.m. for a pole barn fire. The barn and a single-wide unoccupied mobile home were fully engulfed in flames.…
Moonlighting: A blog by Judy Cools. One of my husband’s associates gifted us at Christmastime with a basket of edibles. Most everything has been enjoyed long since, but there remained a package of soup mix that looked awfully good this afternoon. A simmering feast of fresh Tortilla Soup — Mmmmm. Tortilla Soup is one of my favorites, so I had…
LANSING – More parents and providers of early childhood services think a greater number of Michigan’s young children have gained access to education, child care and health and mental health services over the past two years, and that parents are playing a larger role in making sure those services are available, according to a new report released today by the Early Childhood…
UPDATED: LUDINGTON — The 2013 Ludington Lake Jump helped West Shore Pregnancy Care Center raise at least $19,500 toward its goal of paying off the $40,000 debt on its building (see related story here). A large crowd braved the cold temperatures of Lake Michigan this morning for the 14th annual Ludington Lake Jump. “It was awesome,” said Vic Burwell of…
LUDINGTON – The following sentencings took place this week in 51st Circuit Court. – William Geoffrey Buchanan, 23, was sentenced April 2 for the Feb. 13 conviction of child abuse third degree. He was sentenced to 365 days in jail, serving 6 months up front and balance at court’s discretion; 24 months probation; $498 fines/costs. Two other counts –…
LUDINGTON – The following proceedings took place this week in 79th District Court. – Ronnie Zuniga Jr., 29, 105 S. Wildwood Crossing, Apt. 16, Ludington, was found guilty on April 2 for retail fraud second degree. He was sentenced to 31 days in jail; 1 year discretionary jail for 2 years; must report to jail for 7 actual consecutive…
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