Cherry blossoms

May 15, 2013
Cherry blossoms

Photo by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief RIVERTON TWP. — Tart cherries blossom along Hawley Road while a wind turbine towers in the background. Area farmers reported that below-freezing temperatures over the weekend may have damaged some of the fruit crop, but nothing like 2012. Apple blossoms are expected to peak within the next few days.

Read more »

Petunia parade planting Saturday

May 15, 2013
Petunia parade planting Saturday

LUDINGTON — The 26th annual Ludington Petnunia Parade is scheduled for planting on Saturday, May 18 beginning at 10 a.m. Volunteers will be planting 32,400 red, white and blue petunias that have been grown at Gustafson’s Greenhouse of Ludington. The Ludington Optimist Club will be serving lunch for the volunteers after the planting at the City Park ( planters do…

Read more »

One injured in Hamlin crash

May 15, 2013
One injured in Hamlin crash

HAMLIN TWP. — One man was taken to the hospital this afternoon following a two-car crash at the intersection of Jebavy Drive and Jagger Road. The accident occurred about 2:50 p.m. when a man driving a Buick LaSabre was heading east on Jagger Road when he allegedly went through the stop sign causing a north-bound vehicle to crash into it.…

Read more »

MCC 7th graders present the past

May 15, 2013
MCC 7th graders present the past

SCOTTVILLE — Mason County Central seventh grade social studies classes have been learning about ancient cultures such as Egypt, Greece, Rome and Persia. Teacher Phil Quinlan said he used a progressive teaching method which allowed the students more input in their projects. The projects included reading, writing and speaking, Quinlan said. During their social studies classes Monday and Tuesday, the…

Read more »

McCallum pleads guilty

May 14, 2013
McCallum pleads guilty

By Rob Alway Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — Mark McCallum of Hamlin Township agreed to a plea agreement today in 51st Circuit Court. In April, McCallum received 28 months to 15 years in prison for custodial interference in connection to the February 2012 abduction of his children. During the time he took his children, McCallum was going through a divorce with his…

Read more »

Rotta decides not to run for mayor

May 14, 2013

LUDINGTON — Tom Rotta has announced he will not run for Ludington mayor. Rotta had taken out a petition but today, the day the petitions are due, he said he won’t run. “After careful consideration of all the variables involved with such a decision, I have decided to forgo participating in the mayor race this year,” he said. “My initial…

Read more »

County commission will consider sheriff’s requests for boat repairs

May 14, 2013

LUDINGTON – The Mason County Board of Commissioners is expected to take action this morning on the purchase of new boat motors for the Mason County Sheriff’s Office’s marine patrol boats. “The state of our patrol boats is dismal,” Sheriff Kim Cole wrote to Mason County Administrator Fabian Knizacky in a Feb. 15, 2013 memo. “Currently we have one working…

Read more »

Native American gathering

May 14, 2013

The Cedar Water Healing Lodge, located at 3210 General Motors Road, Milford, MI. 48380, will host its second annual Ancient Wisdom Keepers’ Weekend; One Nation, Elder’s Gathering, June 21 through 23. Participants are encouraged to spend the weekend (or a day) walking in the Spirit of the Red Road and experience the Native American Culture in its traditional fashion.  Breakout Sessions…

Read more »

Holman withdraws from mayor rac

May 13, 2013

LUDINGTON — Ludington City Councilor Kaye Ferguson Holman announced this morning that she has decided not to seek the office of mayor. Instead, she will remain a city councilor. “When I decided to run for city council it just felt right,” she told MCP this morning. “But, when I took out the petition for mayor, I just didn’t have the…

Read more »

911 hires operations manager

May 13, 2013
911 hires operations manager

PENTWATER – Todd Myers of Hesperia has been hired as the operations manager for Mason-Oceana 911. The newly created position replaces the previous title of systems administrator, a position vacated by new Director Ray Hasil. Hasil was promoted to director when previous director Rich Feole resigned to accept an assistant director position down state and be closer to family. The…

Read more »

Lake Winds Energy Park resulted in road improvements, cooperation

May 13, 2013

Letter to the Editor. By Gary Dittmer, manager/director, Mason County Road Commission.  As a condition to build the Lake Winds Energy Park in Riverton and Summit townships, Consumers Energy Company, the developer, was required to agree to a road use agreement (RUA) as developed by the Mason County Road Commission. The purpose of the RUA was to protect the investment…

Read more »

Knizacky earns Farm Bureau Insurance award

May 13, 2013
Knizacky earns Farm Bureau Insurance award

  MANISTEE – Matt Knizacky, Farm Bureau Insurance Agent in Manistee has earned the company’s Rising Star Award. The Rising Star Award is presented to Farm Bureau Insurance Agents within their first 36 months in the business who demonstrate their ability to help clients with the products they need and the service they deserve. Matt has clearly demonstrated that he…

Read more »

Missing mother, son found safe

May 13, 2013
Missing mother, son found safe

Gail Merideth Gerbers, 70 and her son, Gregory John Gerbers, 38, have been found and are reported safe and well. The Mason County Sheriff’s Office had reported Sunday that it was investigating a report of the two being missing. They left the Ludington area Thursday en-route to Hammond, Ind. However, they never arrived at their destination. Over the weeekend there…

Read more »

Victim identified from fatal moped accident

May 13, 2013

AMBER TWP. — Grant Robert Bay, 65 of Branch died following a single vehicle crash Friday afternoon. The Mason County Sheriff’s Department reported that Bay was traveling east on U.S. 10-31 near Stiles Road when he apparently lost control of the bike and fell of it. He suffered head injuries and later died at Memorial Medical Center in Ludington. His…

Read more »

Mother, son reported missing

May 12, 2013
Mother, son reported missing

  The Mason County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a report of a mother and son. Gail Merideth Gerbers, 70 and her son, Gregory John Gerbers, 38, left the Ludington area Thursday en-route to Hammond, Ind. However, they never arrived at their destination. Since they left, there has been no contact with family or friends nor has there been any activity…

Read more »

Dr. Anderson selected for Community Service Award

May 11, 2013
Dr. Anderson selected for Community Service Award

UPDATED: HAMLIN TWP. — Dr. Bill Anderson received the 2012 Ludington and Scottville Area Chamber of Commerce’s Outstanding Service Award tonight during the chamber’s annual dinner at Lincoln Hills Golf Club. Anderson is former president of West Shore Community College and served as the Michigan Director of Libraries and History under Govs. John Engler and Jennifer Granholm. He is the…

Read more »

West Shore Bank is Business of Year

May 11, 2013
West Shore Bank is Business of Year

UDPATED: HAMLIN TWP. — West Shore Bank was selected as the 2012 Ludington and Scottville Area Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year tonight at the chamber dinner at Lincoln Hills Golf Club. The bank was one of three nominees for the award. Other nominees were Synergy Broadcast Group and Nautical Yarn and Book Mark. West Shore Bank was nominated…

Read more »

Moped driver dies following Friday accident

May 11, 2013

AMBER TWP. — A 65-year-old Branch man died following a single vehicle crash Friday afternoon. The Mason County Sheriff’s Department reported that the man was traveling east on U.S. 10-31 near Stiles Road when he apparently lost control of the bike and fell of it. The man suffered head injuries and later died at Memorial Medical Center in Ludington. His…

Read more »

Area Churches