Great Republic departs Manistee after coal delivery, heads to Port Inland

August 6, 2026

This MCP Boat Blog is presented by Manistee Harbor Tours, operator of the Princess of Manistee, and the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, www.masoncountymihistory.org. By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief MANISTEE — The MV Great Republic departed the Morton Salt terminal on Manistee Lake at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, after completing a coal delivery and is bound for Port Inland in northern Schoolcraft…

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Oakview Medical Care Facility to celebrate 60th anniversary

August 6, 2026

LUDINGTON — Oakview Medical Care Facility will celebrate 60 years of serving Mason County with an anniversary open house later this month. The community is invited to attend the celebration from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 20, at the facility, 1001 Diana St. The event is free and open to the public. Oakview opened in 1966 and has provided…

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Our Savior Lutheran Church holding backpack giveway

August 6, 2026

AMBER TOWNSHIP — Families preparing for the start of the school year will have an opportunity to receive free backpacks and school supplies during a giveaway hosted by Our Savior Lutheran Church. The church will hold its Back to School Giveaway from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at the church, 765 W. U.S. 10-31. According to the…

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Deputies arrest suspects found passed out behind wheel 

August 6, 2026

The police news is a presentation of Smith & Eddy Insurance, serving west Michigan since 1902, smith-eddy.com. PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — Mason County sheriff’s deputies arrested two men on drunk driving charges who were reportedly found passed behind the wheel of their vehicles Tuesday, Aug. 4, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. The first arrest occurred just before 4…

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MSU Extension’s Citizen Planner program coming to Mason County this fall

August 6, 2026

HAMLIN TOWNSHIP — Michigan State University Extension, in partnership with Hamlin Township and Mason County, will offer its award-winning Citizen Planner program this fall. Designed for locally appointed and elected planning officials, as well as interested residents, the program provides practical education on planning, zoning and community decision-making. Participants from Mason County and surrounding counties are welcome to attend. The program…

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Obituary: Kenneth Charles Kunkel Jr., 43 of Free Soil, formerly of Scottville

August 6, 2026

Kenneth Charles Kunkel Jr., 43 of Free Soil, formerly of Scottville, passed away on Saturday August 1, 2026. Kenneth, lovingly known as Bud, was born on Oct. 29, 1982, in Ludington, the son of Kenneth C. Kunkel Sr. and Marci (Shoup) Maiville. He graduated from Mason County Central High School in 2001 and attended two years of college. On Oct.…

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Recent birth, published Aug. 6, 2026

August 6, 2026

The following births have been reported: Rosemary Grace Hills, the daughter of Valeria Herevia and Joseph Hills of Baldwin, was born on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026. Unless indicated, births occurred at Corewell Health Ludington Hospital. List of 2026 births List of 2025 births   __________________________________ Please Support Local News Receive daily MCP and OCP news briefings along with email news alerts…

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Employment: 2nd Shift Plant Manager

August 6, 2026

Indian Summer is seeking a qualified 2nd Shift Plant Manager to join our team in Ludington. This is a high-impact leadership position where you’ll directly influence production performance, equipment reliability and team development while partnering with company leadership to improve efficiency, reliability and overall plant performance. Qualifications: • Proven leadership experience working with large-volume food production equipment and maintenance crews.…

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Cole likely to win Republican nomination for 32nd State Senate District

August 5, 2026

Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole appeared headed for victory Tuesday in the Republican primary for Michigan’s 32nd State Senate District, building a commanding lead over challenger Max Riekse with strong support across Mason, Oceana and Muskegon counties. With unofficial results available from three of the district’s five counties, Cole had received 11,911 votes to Riekse’s 3,269. Cole carried Mason County…

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Mason, Oceana voters renew 911 operating millage by overwhelming margin

August 5, 2026

Voters in Mason and Oceana counties overwhelmingly approved the renewal of the Mason-Oceana 911 operating millage Tuesday, extending funding for the region’s emergency dispatch system through 2031. Unofficial election results showed the proposal received a combined 10,657 yes votes and 3,780 no votes across the two counties, easily surpassing the majority required for approval of the bi-county millage. In Mason…

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Voters renew county road patrol services millage by wide margin

August 5, 2026

LUDINGTON — Mason County voters approved the renewal of the county’s road patrol services millage Tuesday, giving continued financial support for additional patrol deputies with the Mason County Sheriff’s Office. Unofficial election results show the eight-year renewal passed by a vote of 5,189 to 2,877, or about 64.3% in favor. The proposal renews up to 0.2980 mill for tax years…

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Mason County Central helped shape three local school superintendents

August 5, 2026

Spartan News is a presentation of Mason County Central School District in partnership with Mason County Press.  By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief SCOTTVILLE — Three local school superintendents who now lead neighboring districts gathered Tuesday morning at the Mason County Central Business Office to reflect on the careers that brought them together and the administrative team that helped shape them. Mark…

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Domestic assault arrests, disorderly conduct citations top police news

August 5, 2026

The police news is a presentation of Smith & Eddy Insurance, serving west Michigan since 1902, smith-eddy.com. The following is recent activity of the Ludington Police Department: Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026: 1:49 am, a 29-year-old Shelby man was arrested on a warrant, Washington Avenue and Danaher Street, City of Ludington. He was lodged in the Mason County Jail. 3 a.m.,…

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Ludington mayoral race will be Stibitz and Hoekstra

August 5, 2026

LUDINGTON — Ludington City Councilor Cheri Stibitz and Carol Hoekstra advanced to the Nov. 3 general election Tuesday after finishing as the top two vote-getters in the city’s three-way mayoral primary, according to unofficial results. Stibitz led the field with 823 votes, while Hoekstra received 507 votes. Beth Elliott finished third with 479 votes and was eliminated from the race.…

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Amber Township passes road millage

August 5, 2026

AMBER TOWNSHIP — Amber Township voters approved a 10-year road maintenance and improvements millage Tuesday, giving the township additional funding for road work through 2037. Unofficial results from the Aug. 4 primary election showed the proposal passing 350-272, with about 56.3% of voters supporting the measure and 43.7% opposed. The proposal authorizes the township to increase the tax limitation by…

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Anderson leads 101st House GOP primary vote in eastern Mason County townships

August 5, 2026

LUDINGTON — Gary Anderson held a narrow lead in the Republican primary for the 101st House District among the eastern Mason County townships Tuesday, winning the combined vote in Branch, Logan and Meade townships. Unofficial results from the three precincts showed Anderson with 67 votes, followed by Rich Vance with 60, Luke Eising with 49, Jaxon Deur with 48 and…

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Free Soil Township passes community center millage

August 5, 2026

FREE SOIL — Free Soil Township voters approved renewal of a 0.5-mill property tax Tuesday to continue funding the operation and maintenance of the Free Soil Community Center. The proposal was approved by a vote of 142-102, according to unofficial election results from the Mason County Clerk’s Office. The five-year renewal will run from 2026 through 2030. The levy renews…

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Eden Township voters pass road millage

August 5, 2026

EDEN TOWNSHIP — Eden Township voters approved a six-year renewal of the township’s road maintenance, improvements and brining millage Tuesday. The proposal passed 108-56, according to unofficial results from the Mason County Clerk’s Office. The renewal continues a previously approved millage that had been reduced by the Headlee Amendment rollback from 1 mill to 0.9425 mills, or about 94 cents…

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Employment: Upper Elementary Instructional Assistants

August 5, 2026

Mason County Central School District is hiring Upper Elementary Instructional Assistants. For details and to apply go to www.mccschools.org. Job ID #677. Application deadline: Aug. 12, 2026. This is a paid posting. Published until Aug. 12, 2026. 

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Employment: Child Care Aide

August 5, 2026

Part-time (2:30-5:30 p.m.) with more hours possible Job Description: Ludington Area Catholic School Child Care is seeking a child care aide to join our staff beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. The successful candidate must be able to work collaboratively with others to carry out the mission of LAC. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. LAC School…

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Mason-Oceana 911 log, Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2026

August 5, 2026

Mason and Oceana county law enforcement agencies and emergency responders handled a wide range of calls Tuesday, Aug. 4, including reports of indecent exposure, a criminal sexual conduct complaint, domestic incidents, a suspected impaired driver, crashes, juvenile complaints and numerous traffic stops. In Mason County, the Mason County Sheriff’s Office logged 32 calls for service during the reporting period, while…

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