West Shore dean’s list

March 6, 2013

VICTORY TWP. — West Shore Community College has released its Dean’s List for the 2012 Fall Semester.  Full-time students achieving a semester grade point average of 3.75 or above receive high honors and full-time students with a grade point average between 3.50 and 3.749 receive honors. Part-time students are eligible for the Dean’s List when their accumulating grade point averages…

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Former Amber supervisor dies

March 6, 2013

By Rob Alway Editor-in-Chief. AMBER TWP. – Former Amber Township Supervisor Larry Donovan died Tuesday of an extended illness. He was 80-years-old. After retiring from Memorial Medical Center, he served 12 years as township supervisor, replacing Herbert “Bud” Hall. He, along with Hall, saw major expansion of Amber’s commercial district, especially along the U.S. 10 corridor between Meyers and Dennis…

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Gancarz has spent 25 years advocating for victims of drunk driving

March 6, 2013
Gancarz has spent 25 years advocating for victims of drunk driving

By Rob Alway Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — Deanne Gancarz has probably clocked more time in the 79th District Court than most. For the past 25 years, the Fountain area resident has been a courtroom observer representing Mothers Against Drunk Driving of Mason County. Gancarz is present for a majority of the district court proceedings. She keeps track of most of the…

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West Shore Bank donates $15,000 to COVE

March 6, 2013
West Shore Bank donates $15,000 to COVE

  LUDINGTON — West Shore Bank has donated $15,000 towards the Communities Overcoming Violent Encounters (COVE) capital campaign, making the bank the first corporate donor and launching the public portion of COVE’s capital campaign. The goal of COVE’s capital campaign is to raise the funds necessary to build a new facility in Ludington that would replace the current 110-year old house that…

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I fought with the day, and the day won

March 6, 2013
I fought with the day, and the day won

Randomness. A blog by Patrick McClellan Jan 24th 2013 blow-by-blow was: 08:30 Had a dental app at 9-10. Before I left I told the troops (AKA family) I wanted to tackle that 380 SFt sawmill job as soon as they got home from school (early due to tests). It was a great sunny warm (45º+) “January Thaw” kind of day.…

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MCC forensics takes first place again

March 6, 2013

The Mason County Central High School forensics team took first place Saturday when it competed in Alma against 15 other teams. The team scored a history record of 430 team points. MCC Results from Alma this past Saturday. 1st place Alex Myers Broadcasting 1st place Carson Cooper Impromptu 1st Place Bethany Anderson Prose 1st Place Morgan Muyskens Oratory 1st Place…

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Scottville mayor makes headlines across the state; time to step down

March 6, 2013
Scottville mayor makes headlines across the state; time to step down

Our View. An editorial.  The city of Scottville made headlines across the state this week. Unfortunately, the headlines were not about all the good that is being done in our fine little town but rather about the mayor’s drunk driving conviction. To our count, the story was covered by the Muskegon Chronicle, Grand Haven Tribune, Mlive.com, TV 9 and 10,…

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Scottville mayor guilty of drunk driving

March 5, 2013
Scottville mayor guilty of drunk driving

LUDINGTON — Scottville Mayor Joe Baxter was found guilty Monday of operating a motor vehicle while impaired by liquor. The charges stem from an October 2012 incident in which Baxter drove his vehicle off a ravine at the end of East Second Street in Scottville. Two hours after the 8:30 a.m. crash his blood alcohol level was .08, above the…

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Former MCE employee arraigned in circuit court

March 5, 2013

LUDINGTON — Robert Crane Bacon, 67, 2917 E. U.S. 10, Custer Twp., was arraigned this morning in 51st Circuit Court in front of Judge Richard Cooper on the felony charge of embezzlement. Bacon was originally arraigned Jan. 18 in front of Judge Peter Wadel in 79th District Court. He waived his pre-trial conference in front of Wadel. Bacon is charged…

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FloraCraft named supplier of year

March 5, 2013
FloraCraft named supplier of year

GRAND RAPIDS — The Michigan Floral Association named FloraCraft Supplier of the Year at its annual Great Lakes Floral Expo Awards Dinner held at the Amway Grand Plaza this past Saturday. Mike Romansik, FloraCraft National Sales Manager, accepted the award on behalf of the company. In addition, Tim Timinski, Business Developmet Manager at FloraCraft, was named Vice President of the…

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Police officers receive bravery citations

March 5, 2013
Police officers receive bravery citations

By Alan Neushwander MCP Correspondent. LUDINGTON – Five local law enforcement officers received bravery citations from Ludington Police Chief Mark Barnett during Monday’s city council meeting for their efforts during a shoot out on June 26, 2012. Ludington Police Sgt. Dave Maltbie, Ludington Police Officer Aaron Sailor, Ludington Police Officer Jason Smith, Mason County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Oscar Davila and…

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Ludington city council considers outdoor dining

March 5, 2013

By Alan Neushwander MCP Correspondent. LUDINGTON – Several residents spoke during the public comment portion of Monday’s Ludington City Council meeting about a proposed plan to allow restaurants to offer outdoor dining in the downtown district. Speaking in favor of the outdoor dining proposal were Randy Cunic owner of the Blue Moon Bistro on South James Street and Planning Commission…

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Scottville approves paving bid, lift chair

March 5, 2013

By Lisa Enos MCP Correspondent. SCOTTVILLE – The Scottville city commissioner had a full agenda Monday. It awarded a bid for street resurfacing in the amount of $33,960, approved up to $6,000 for the purchase of a lift chair for the Riverside Park swimming pool and and decided to place an ad for a part time police chief. “We spent…

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Concerns aired about west Ludington Avenue improvements

March 5, 2013

By Alan Neushwander MCP Corespondent. LUDINGTON – Three residents spoke during a public hearing Monday regarding proposed improvements to the west end of Ludington Avenue. The City of Ludington is looking to create improved pedestrian access at the Lake Michigan waterfront. The project would provide universal access to people with disabilities by constructing a concrete walkway through the sandy beach…

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Ludington amends budget, considers changing alcohol sales ordinance, hears reports

March 5, 2013

By Alan Neushwander MCP Correspondent. LUDINGTON – Ludington City Council approved the city’s 2012 budget amendments Monday night. City Manager John Shay said the city’s revenues exceeded expenditures by $336,429. Shay cited numerous reasons why revenues were higher than anticipated including higher building permit fee revenue due primarily to Memorial Medical Center’s expansion project, an increase in revenue sharing, an…

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NPR features Badger

March 4, 2013

National Public Radio’s All Things Considered afternoon show featured an 8-minute story today on the SS Badger. Reporter Noah Adams spent a few days in Ludington interviewing business owners, dignitaries and ordinary citizens about their opinion of the Badger. Click here for the story.  

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Local artist receives first place

March 4, 2013
Local artist receives first place

HOUGHTON — A local artist’s work has received top honors at the Michigan Technological University Great Lakes Showcase. Pere Marquette Township artist Dave Masten’s Wired has received first place in the three dimensional art category. Wired is a statue made of copper. It makes a statement about modern technology and our reliance on it. Diana Budde, an associate professor at…

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Thad Ray, our new correspondent

March 4, 2013
Thad Ray, our new correspondent

Editor’s note: When Mason County Press was started last winter, Thad Ray was one of the first people to approach me and ask if he could start writing a blog. Full Circle has been one of our most well-received blogs. Thad has decided he wants to move to another level and start writing some articles for us. Thad was born in…

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