Track & Field: Spartans sweep Optimist invite

April 11, 2026

MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Smith & Eddy Insurance and Michelle and Andrew Thomas. By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief SCOTTVILLE — Mason County Central hosted Mason County Eastern, Pentwater and Shelby Friday at Spartan Community Field for the revived Scottville Optimist Track & Field Invitational, with the Spartans sweeping both…

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Obituary: Tamara “Tami” Ann Dunklow, 67, of Traverse City, formerly of Ludington

April 11, 2026

TRAVERSE CITY – Tamara Ann Dunklow, 67, passed away peacefully at her home on Thursday, April 2, 2026  after a brief battle with cancer, leaving behind emptiness that can never be filled. Tami was born in Flint on July 13, 1958 to Bernard and Evelyn Johnson. Her family moved to Traverse City in 1965 where Tami grew up on Long…

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Historical Society to hold 3 cemetery tours this summer

April 10, 2026

LUDINGTON — The Mason County Historical Society will host three cemetery tours this summer in celebration of America’s Semiquincentennial. The tours, that begin at 6 p.m., will be held on the second Thursday of June, July, and August. The Masters & Commanders, June 11, Lakeview Cemetery, Ludington: Ludington’s maritime heritage is one of the richest on the Great Lakes. Lakeview…

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Berkshire Hathaway acquisition of OxyChem transfers ownership of Ludington plant

April 10, 2026

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — A major corporate transaction involving Occidental Petroleum and Berkshire Hathaway has impacted ownership of the OxyChem plant in Ludington, though no local operational changes have been announced. Occidental announced Jan. 2 that it had completed the $9.7 billion sale of its chemical business, OxyChem, to Berkshire Hathaway. The deal is part of Occidental’s broader…

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County commissioners to consider ambulance service agreement

April 10, 2026

PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — The Mason County Board of Commissioners will consider approving a new ambulance service agreement with Life EMS Inc. during its monthly meeting Tuesday, April 14. The meeting will take place at 7 p.m. at the Mason County Airport Terminal conference room, 5300 W. US 10. The proposed agreement, listed under the board’s Public Safety and Courts…

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79th District Court arraignments, published April 10, 2026

April 10, 2026

LUDINGTON — The following were recently arraigned on felony charges in Mason County’s 79th District Court: Arthur Frederick Bennett, 63, two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC) — victim under 13 years old — in one file and three counts of third-degree CSC — victim under 13 years old —  in a second file. Offense dates: Jan. 1, 2020…

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Police news, published April 10, 2026

April 10, 2026

The following is Mason County Sheriff’s Office activity Thursday, April 9, 2026: 6:19 a.m., car/deer crash, no injury, US 31 south of Sauble Road, Free Soil Township. 9:06 p.m., car/deer crash, no injury, Millerton Road east of Reek road, Sherman Township. 10:04 p.m., a 52-year-old Brethren man was arrested following a traffic stop on an outstanding Mason County failure to…

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Varsity Baseball: Orioles Trounce Hart Pirates in Two Game Series

April 10, 2026

MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Smith & Eddy Insurance and Michelle and Andrew Thomas. By Kai Taylor, MCP Sports Writer LUDINGTON — Ludington swept Hart in a doubleheader Thursday, shutting out the Pirates 10-0 and 9-0. In the opener, the Orioles broke through in the second inning when Karson…

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Obituary: Ruth Mae (Warner) Freese, 94 of Ludington

April 10, 2026

Ruth Mae (Warner) Freese, 94 of Ludington, passed away in the comfort of her home on Wednesday, April 8, 2026. Born on April 18, 1931, at the family home in Riverton Township, Ruth was the daughter of the late Samuel George and Bertha Elvie (Schumacher) Warner. She attended Ludington High School. Ruth married Melvin Leroy Freese on Jan. 22, 1953.…

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Varsity Girl’s Tennis: Orioles Drop Dual Match to Traverse City West 0-8

April 10, 2026

MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Smith & Eddy Insurance and Michelle and Andrew Thomas.   By Kai Taylor, MCP Sports Writer LUDINGTON — The Orioles had a tough fought battle with the Titans of Traverse City West today, losing 8-0 in a dual match. Ludington, who had “several close…

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Tug-barge Meredith Ashton/Robert F. Deegan arrive in Ludington

April 9, 2026

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — The articulated tug-barge combination of the Meredith Ashton and the Robert F. Deegan arrived at the Port of Ludington Thursday evening, docking at the Occidental Chemical Corp. (OxyChem) facility on Pere Marquette Lake. The Meredith Ashton, a 95-foot-long, 32-foot-wide tug owned by Ashton Marine Co. of North Muskegon, was built in 1999 by Thoma-Sea…

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Contractor faces more fraud charges

April 9, 2026

LUDINGTON — A 53-year-old man who already faces felony charges in two criminal files in Mason County’s 79th District Court in connection to alleged building contractor fraud‎ was recently charged with two more felony counts in a third file. Scot Eric Latimer, owner of Pere Marquette Builders, LLC, 913 S. Washington Ave., is now charged with the following offenses in…

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Fountain man appears in court drunk

April 9, 2026

LUDINGTON — A 34-year-old Fountain man was remanded to the Mason County Jail after he appeared intoxicated before 79th District Court Judge John Middlebrook Wednesday, April 8, at 10 a.m. at the Mason County Courthouse, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. Drinking alcohol is a violation of his bond conditions. “A breathalyzer result administered by the court deputy showed…

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Varsity Softball: Kingsley defeats MCC in nonconference doubleheader

April 9, 2026

MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Smith & Eddy Insurance and Michelle and Andrew Thomas. KINGSLEY — The Mason County Central Spartans dropped a nonconference softball doubleheader to the Kingsley Stags on Wednesday, falling 4-1 in the opener and 8-1 in Game 2. In Game 1, Payton Cory pitched a…

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Varsity Baseball: Spartans fall to Kingsley in doubleheader

April 9, 2026

MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Smith & Eddy Insurance and Michelle and Andrew Thomas. KINGSLEY — The Mason County Central Spartans dropped a nonconference doubleheader to Kingsley on Wednesday, April 8, falling 11-6 in the opener and 3-2 in a daylight-shortened second game. In Game 1, MCC was limited…

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Police news, published April 9, 2026

April 9, 2026

The police news is a presentation of Smith & Eddy Insurance, serving west Michigan since 1902, smith-eddy.com. The following is police activity in Mason County Wednesday, April 8, 2026: 3:32 a.m., (Mason County Sheriff’s Office), alarm activation, Amber Township. 6:55 p.m., (MCSO), a 20-year-old Shelby man was arrested on an outstanding Osceola County criminal bench warrant following a traffic stop,…

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Cold water, ice slow fishing in Ludington, Manistee; steelhead action improving on inland rivers

April 9, 2026

LANSING — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources weekly fishing report indicates early spring conditions continue to impact angling success across the state, with ice, cold water and runoff still limiting activity in many areas. Reports from Ludington and Manistee show some of the most challenging conditions, while river systems are beginning to see improving steelhead action as temperatures slowly…

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Obituary: Barbara Jean Genung, 82, of Custer

April 9, 2026

Barbara Jean Genung, 82, of Custer passed away on Tuesday, April 7, 2026.  Barbara was born on March 28, 1944 in Johnson City, New York, the daughter of Edmund and Josephine (Guley) Namiotka and grew up in the Johnson City area.  Following her graduation from high school, she served her country with the United States Air Force where she met…

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Recent death: Roger Duane Sanders, 87, of Scottville

April 9, 2026

Roger Duane Sanders, 87, of Scottville, died on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. Arrangements by Grace Funeral Home and Cremation Services, www.GraceCremations.com. Listing of 2026 deaths. Listing of 2025 deaths. Listing of 2024 deaths. Listing of 2023 deaths. Listing of 2022 deaths. Listing of 2021 deaths. Listing of 2020 deaths. Listing of 2019 deaths __________ Please Support Local News Receive daily…

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Employment: High School Social Studies Teacher

April 9, 2026

Employment: High School Social Studies Teacher Mason County Central School District is hiring a High School Social Studies Teacher for the 2026/2027 academic school year. For details and to apply go to www.mccschools.org. Job ID# 651. Application deadline: April 23, 2026. This is a paid posting. Published until April 23, 2026

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WSCC millage renewal on May. 5 ballot

April 8, 2026

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief VICTORY TOWNSHIP — Voters in the West Shore Community College district will decide May 5 whether to approve a 10-year capital millage proposal that college officials say continues a long-standing funding mechanism for campus improvements. The proposal asks voters to authorize 0.9604 mill — or about 96 cents per $1,000 of taxable value — from 2026…

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