County commissioner asks fair association to assure it’s cooperating with 4-H.

December 14, 2016

County commissioner asks fair association to assure it’s cooperating with 4-H. #WesternMichiganFair #MasonCountyGovernment By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.  LUDINGTON — At least one member of the Mason County Board of Commissioners wants to assure that the Western Michigan Fair Association is maintaining a good relationship with its partners, especially 4-H. During the monthly meeting of the commissioners Tuesday night, Mike Stakenas,…

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Zonta members donate blankets to COVE.

December 14, 2016

#MasonCountyCares Zonta members donate blankets to COVE. LUDINGTON — The Zonta Club of Ludington Area recently donated new blankets to COVE (Communities Overcoming Violent Encounters) to be used by the organization’s shelter. Pictured from left, are: Sandy Saxman, Kathy Brown, Sandie Holcombe, Barb Wood, Dori Bray, Kathy Couturier, Lindsay Reynolds, Kate Sanford, Jayne Budzynski, Nancy Sorensen, Donna Yager, Karen Shineldecker, Angie…

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West Shore Bank, customers raise funds for 830 holiday meals.

December 14, 2016

West Shore Bank, customers raise funds for 830 holiday meals.  #MasonCountyCares. LUDINGTON — West Shore Bank, in partnership with Shop-N-Save of Ludington, Hansen Foods in Hart, Family Fare in Manistee, and Shop-N-Save in Benzonia, will distribute 830 meals to food banks in Oceana, Mason, Manistee and Benzie counties as a result of the recent West Shore Bank Spirit of Giving…

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Obituary: Nina Dunstan, 88, Ludington.

December 14, 2016

Obituary: Nina Dunstan, 88, Ludington. #MasonCountyDeaths. Nina D. Dunstan, 88, of Ludington, died on Thursday, December 8, 2016.  Nina was the beloved wife of Thomas S. Dunstan, who died October 20, 2012.  She was born Honoria Dooley on March 13, 1928 in Liscananaun, County Galway, Ireland, the fifth of 10 children of John and Nora (nee Wynne) Dooley. Nina grew…

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Obituary: Jenny Hartrum, 81, Pentwater.

December 14, 2016

Obituary: Jenny Hartrum, 81, Pentwater. #MasonCountyDeaths Jenny Lind (Ronneberg) Hartrum, age 81 of Pentwater, died on December 11, 2016 at Oakview Medical Care Facility of Ludington. Jenny was born on September 10, 1935, daughter of the late Earl F. and Bertha J. (Cohn) Ronneberg.  She attended Taft High School and graduated with the fall class of 1952.  She went to…

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Scottville planning commission opposes main floor downtown apartments.

December 14, 2016

Scottville planning commission opposes main floor downtown apartments. #Scottville SCOTTVILLE — The Scottville Planning Commission is recommending that the City Commission deny a variance request by a downtown building owner to allow permanent residency on the main floor of his building. Ludington-based attorney Mark Pehrson, who owns 113 S. Main St., has requested the variance after city officials discovered that…

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Deputies, prosecutor, medics receive honors from sheriff.

December 13, 2016

Deputies, prosecutor, medics receive honors from sheriff. #MasonCountyHeroes By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole and Undersheriff Jody Hartley honored several men and women during Tuesday night’s monthly meeting of the Mason County Board of Commissioners at the Mason County Courthouse. Three people were honored for their role in investigating and prosecuting the disappearance and murder…

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Branch man charged with 6 CSC counts to undergo mental exam.

December 13, 2016

Branch man charged with 6 CSC counts to undergo mental exam. #MasonCountyNews #CourtNews By Allison Scarbrough. Editor. LUDINGTON — A 20-year-old Branch man charged with three counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC) and three counts of second-degree CSC will undergo a mental competency exam requested by his attorney. Jordan Daniel Bates, of 1946 S. Shepperd Rd., appeared in 51st…

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Men accused of Fountain Lumber break-in reject plea deals.

December 13, 2016

Men accused of Fountain Lumber break-in reject plea deals. #MasonCountyNews #CourtNews By Allison Scarbrough. Editor SHERMAN TOWNSHIP — The two Fountain men facing multiple felonies in connection to break-ins last August at the Fountain Lumber Company and a pole barn on East Mavis Road rejected the plea deals that were offered by the Mason County Prosecutor’s Office Tuesday, Dec. 13,…

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Ludington man pleads ‘no contest’ to 4th-degree CSC.

December 13, 2016

Ludington man pleads ‘no contest’ to 4th-degree CSC. #MasonCountyNews #CourtNews By Allison Scarbrough. Editor. LUDINGTON — A 25-year-old Ludington man pleaded “no contest” Tuesday, Dec. 13, in 51st Circuit Court to a high-court misdemeanor of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC). Michael Frank Battice, of 905 S. Madison Ave., was set to go to trial Wednesday, Dec. 14, facing two felony…

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Recent death, reported Dec. 13, 2016.

December 13, 2016

Recent death, reported Dec. 13, 2016. #MasonCountyDeaths The following recent death has been reported to MCP from area funeral homes. Jenny Lind Hartrum, 81, of Ludington, peacefully passed away on Sunday, December 11, 2016 at Oakview Medical Care Facility of Ludington.  See full list of 2016 deaths here. 

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Judge rules that trucker face misdemeanor.

December 13, 2016

Judge rules that trucker face misdemeanor. By Allison Scarbrough. Editor. #OceanaCountyNews #CourtNews HART — The 26-year-old Amber Township trucker who rear-ended a family of five and another motorist, critically injuring a 4-year-old boy July 5 on southbound US 31 near the New Era exit, will face a misdemeanor charge. Judge H. Kevin Drake of 78th District Court ruled Monday, Dec. 12,…

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1 injured in snowmobile crash.

December 13, 2016

  1 injured in snowmobile crash. #MasonCountyNews #PoliceNews CUSTER TOWNSHIP — One person was injured in a snowmobile crash Monday, Dec. 12, at 8:45 p.m. at the intersection of Conrad and Poplar roads, according to Michigan State Police Sgt. Charles Hockanson of the Hart post. No other information was immediately available, because the narrative of the report was not yet…

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‘Behold the Lamb of God’ concert is Saturday.

December 13, 2016

‘Behold the Lamb of God’ concert is Saturday. #Christmas2016. VICTORY TOWNSHIP — Tom Noteware & Friends will present “Behold the Lamb of God” in concert on Saturday, December 17 at 7 p.m. at West Shore Community College Center Stage Theater, located at the intersection of Stiles and Sugar Grove roads. The music and story-telling of the concert are unique –…

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DNR announces snowmobile trail closure

December 13, 2016

DNR announces snowmobile trail closure.  #Winter. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources has announced a part of Snowmobile Trail No. 614 in Mason and western Lake counties is closed for the 2016-17 snowmobile season. It has been determined that three bridges along the trail are structurally unsafe and the trail base has degraded due to higher-than-normal water levels. The trail,…

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Assault, larceny among police activity.

December 12, 2016

Assault, larceny among police activity. #MasonCountyNews #PoliceNews The following is police activity over the weekend: Friday, Dec. 9, 2016: 8:30 a.m., (Michigan State Police), car/deer crash, Free Soil and LaSalle roads, Grant Township. 3:15 p.m., (MSP), two-car crash, no injuries, US 10 and Pere Marquette Highway, Pere Marquette Township. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2016: 12:46 a.m., (Ludington Police Department), assault, 200…

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Christmas shopping safety tips.

December 12, 2016

Christmas shopping safety tips. #MichiganStatePolice HART — The Michigan State Police reminds holiday shoppers to follow a few simple safety precautions when shopping in stores and online. “A primary factor in crime prevention is being aware of your surroundings and potential areas of danger,” advised Community Service Trooper Dan Thomas. “By remaining vigilant and following a few safety tips, you…

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MSP’s ‘Stuff a Blue Goose’ makes Christmas brighter for many.

December 12, 2016

MSP’s ‘Stuff a Blue Goose’ makes Christmas brighter for many. #MichiganStatePolice #StuffaBlueGoose LUDINGTON — The Michigan State Police is conducting an event this Friday, “Stuff a Blue Goose for Christmas,” to benefit those less fortunate in Mason and Oceana counties. The blue goose is the MSP patrol car. “We have long referred to our patrol cars as a ‘blue goose,’…

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WSCC holiday musical performances in Shelby, Ludington.

December 12, 2016

WSCC holiday musical performances in Shelby, Ludington.  #Christmas2016. VICTORY TOWNSHIP — West Shore Community College’s musical ensembles are featured this month in several holiday performances throughout the area. According to Professor Ted Malt, who leads the college’s music department, members of the musical ensembles travel from throughout western Michigan to rehearse every week during a semester. “Members of these groups…

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Recent births, reported December 12, 2016.

December 12, 2016

Recent births, reported December 12, 2016.  #MasonCountyBirths Recent births are brought to you by Shelby Gem Factory. See more information below.  Births took place at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital, unless indicated otherwise.  Saphira Reign Golnick, the daughter of Theresa Kuzma and Herbert Golnick III of Ludington, was born December 5, 2016. Jackson Carter Adams, the son of Nina Card and Randall Adams of…

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Shaken, Not Stirred: Hotel people, part 1.

December 11, 2016

Shaken, Not Stirred: Hotel people, part 1. #ShakenNotStirred. A blog by Jim Bond. They are a special breed. A group for whom I have enormous respect. My initial foray into this unique world arrived shortly after my graduation from high school. It was the summer of 1965, I had just graduated (in the southern tradition) from a prestigious military academy…

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