Prosecutor will not seek additional term

March 19, 2024

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Lauren Kreinbrink will not serve a second term. Kreinbrink, who was elected in 2019, sent an email to various county court employees, county employees, and private practice attorneys on Jan. 30 announcing that she will not be seeking re-election. MCP obtained the email through the Michigan Freedom of Information Act…

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Man sentenced to 15-40 years in prison for molesting two girls

March 19, 2024

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor LUDINGTON — A 57-year-old man convicted of two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct was sentenced to 15-40 years in prison in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, March 19. Joseph Fredrick Pereira pleaded no contest, Jan. 17. Before Judge Susan K. Sniegowski handed down the sentence, the court heard a victim statement from the mother…

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LHS teacher resigns amid allegations of inappropriate conduct

March 19, 2024

LHS teacher resigns amid allegations of inappropriate conduct By Alan Neushwander, Contributing Writer. LUDINGTON — A high school teacher from the Ludington Area School District has resigned following an investigation into inappropriate conduct. “Once the district became aware of the allegations, the employee was placed on non-disciplinary, paid administrative leave pending further investigation,” according to a memo sent to parents…

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Teen faces jail for knife assault

March 19, 2024

LUDINGTON — A 19-year-old woman pleaded guilty to assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder/strangulation and assault with a dangerous weapon/felonious assault in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, March 19. Justyce Victoria Gillespie faces a seven-month jail term for the convictions, said Mason County Assistant Prosecutor Beth Hand. The maximum penalty for strangulation is 10…

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Man pleads guilty to shoplifting from Meijer

March 19, 2024

LUDINGTON — A 30-year-old man pleaded guilty in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, March 19, to two counts of retail fraud or shoplifting. Sergio Ramon Escamilla faces serving nine months in jail and paying restitution to the Meijer store in Amber Township, according to Mason County Assistant Prosecutor Beth Hand. Escamilla initially faced retail fraud charges in three separate…

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Habitual offender faces prison term for assault convictions

March 19, 2024

LUDINGTON — A 44-year-old man faces a minimum of four years in prison after pleading no contest to three assault charges in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, March 19. Christopher Lee Merriman pleaded to charges of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, second-offense domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon and fourth-offense habitual offender.…

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Woman receives delayed sentence for shoe store embezzlement

March 19, 2024

LUDINGTON — A 48-year-old woman received a delayed sentence in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, March 19, for a conviction of embezzlement between $1,000 to $20,000. Tanya Renee Oleniczak pleaded guilty to the charge, Jan. 30. If Oleniczak abides by the terms of her probation, she can plead to a reduced misdemeanor charge. Her final sentencing is set for…

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Obituary: Woodrow ‘Woody’ Millspaugh, Jr., 78, of Scottville

March 19, 2024

Woodrow “Woody” Ernest Millspaugh, Jr., 78, of Scottville passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2024.  Woody was born on August 17, 1945 in Flint, the oldest child of Woodrow and Georgia (Lucas) Millspaugh, Sr., and graduated from Goodrich High School with the class of 1963. He furthered his education at Central Michigan University and completed his bachelor’s degree after serving his…

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Obituary: Ann Kasley, 58, of Ludington

March 19, 2024

Ann Louise (Nelson) Kasley, 58, of Ludington passed away at her home on Friday, March 15, 2024. She was born, in Ludington, on January 10, 1966, the daughter of Charles and Sandra (Lange) Nelson. Ann graduated from Ludington High School and attended Central Michigan University, where she obtained a degree in education. She received her master’s of education degree from…

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LHS job fair seeks booth participants

March 19, 2024

LUDINGTON — The 2024 Ludington High School Job Fair is scheduled for Wednesday, April 3 at Hawley Gymnasium. The event will take place from 12:30 to 2:45 p.m. for LHS students and then from 4 to 6 p.m. for the public. The event is seeking employers who would like to participate in the event. Each registration includes one 8-foot table,…

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Support local news for $10 a month

March 19, 2024
Support local news for $10 a month

Support local news for $10 a month We hope you enjoy reading Mason County Press and Oceana County Press. Our services are provided to you through the generous support of our advertisers. Traditional newspaper models require subscriptions or purchase of an individual newspaper in order to see their product. We do not, and will not, require our readers to pay…

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Recent births, posted March 19, 2024

March 19, 2024

Emmett Charles Anible, the son of Alexa Gavrilides and Austyn Anible of Ludington, was born on Friday, March 15, 2024. Unless indicated, births occurred at Corewell Health Ludington Hospital.  List of 2024 births List of 2023 births     Help us to keep posting birth announcements. Support local journalism.  Receive email alerts and recaps starting at $10 per month We hope…

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Lederer second to announce candidacy for prosecutor

March 18, 2024

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — Ludington-based attorney Becky Lederer announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination for Mason County prosecutor. Lederer, who resides in Branch Township, has been a court-appointed defense attorney since 2006, serving in Mason, Manistee, and Lake counties. “I have worked in every aspect of both criminal and family courts, except in prosecution,” Lederer said. “I…

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Chamber leadership class studying homelessness, helps with Habitat renovation

March 18, 2024

LUDINGTON — The 2024 cohort of Leadership Mason County is spending six months gathering information about homelessness in the local area and taking on a renovation project at a Habitat for Humanity home. Goals of this project include: Investigating the extent and nature of homelessness in the local community Dispelling stereotypes about who is unhoused and why Cataloging services provided…

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Scottville PD report, posted March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

The police news is a presentation of Smith & Eddy Insurance, serving west Michigan since 1902, smith-eddy.com. SCOTTVILLE — The following is recent activity of the Scottville Police Department: Sunday, March 10, 2024: 1:46 p.m., animal complaint, 100 block of East State Street. Thursday, March 14, 2024: 12:41 p.m., found property, 200 block of North Reinberg Avenue. 4:45 p.m., alarm,…

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51st Circuit Court sentences, posted March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024

LUDINGTON — The following were sentenced recently in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court: – Joshua Kurt VanDenHeuvel, 40, pleaded guilty Jan. 17 to breaking and entering a building with intent and pleaded guilty Jan. 18 to assaulting/resisting/obstructing police. VanDenHeuvel was sentenced March 12 to six months in jail with credit for 43 days served; three years probation; and $1,266 in…

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Man sentenced to prison for weapons conviction

March 18, 2024

LUDINGTON — A 29-year-old man was sentenced in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court, March 12, to 14 months to 20 years in prison for a conviction of carrying a concealed weapon, according to court records. Donnie Ray Totten III pleaded guilty to the charge, Jan. 23, court records state. He received credit for 96 days served in jail and was…

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Police investigate tire slashing

March 18, 2024

The police news is a presentation of Smith & Eddy Insurance, serving west Michigan since 1902, smith-eddy.com. SCOTTVILLE —The Mason County Sheriff’s Office investigated a tire slashing complaint reported Saturday, March 16, shortly before 10 a.m. at Thornwild Apartments, said Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. The following is other recent police activity in Mason County: Wednesday, March 13, 2024: 6:30…

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