Ludington Optimists to host chess tourney.

January 27, 2016
Ludington Optimists to host chess tourney.

LUDINGTON — The Ludington Optimist Club will hold its 61st annual youth chess tournament on Saturday, March 12 beginning at 9 a.m. at Ludington High School cafeteria, 508 N. Washington Ave. The regional tournament is open to all students high school age or younger who play chess. Registration begins at 9 a.m. with play beginning at 10 a.m. The tournament…

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Slick roads cause many crashes; no injuries reported.

January 27, 2016
Slick roads cause many crashes; no injuries reported.

The following is local law enforcement activity Jan. 26, 2016: – 12:20 a.m., (Mason County Sheriff’s Office), one-vehicle crash, no injuries, Lakeshore Dr. and Abrahamson Rd., Hamlin Township. – 12:50 a.m., (MCSO), one-vehicle crash, no injuries, US 31 near Pere Marquette Hwy., PM Township. – 1:09 a.m., (Michigan State Police, Hart post), a 25-year-old Sears, Michigan woman was arrested for…

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Ludington man found urinating in public, arrested for disorderly.

January 26, 2016
Ludington man found urinating in public, arrested for disorderly.

PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — Deputies from Mason County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 53-year-old Ludington man Monday on charges of disorderly person. At 2:51 p.m., deputies were called to Jebavy Drive near Hazelwood Road for a report of a man walking in traffic on Jebavy Drive. A deputy located the person who appeared intoxicated and was allegedly urinating in a business…

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Meth possession yields jail sentence.

January 26, 2016
Meth possession yields jail sentence.

LUDINGTON — An 18-year-old Fremont man was sentenced in 51st Circuit Court, Jan. 12, to serve seven months up front of a one-year discretionary jail sentence for a conviction of methamphetamine possession. Jordan Jacob Stein, of 222 E. Elm St., was found guilty, Oct. 14. Stein was also sentenced to two years probation; driver’s license suspended 60 days/restricted after 30…

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Fire, EMS log, Jan. 25, 2016.

January 26, 2016
Fire, EMS log, Jan. 25, 2016.

The following was activity of Mason County fire and EMS departments for Monday, Jan. 25, 2016: 3:14 a.m.: Life EMS (Life) and Fountain Fire Department: medical call, East Millerton Road, Sherman Township. 7:55 a.m.: Life, Riverton Fire Department: medical call, West Hawley Road, Riverton Township. 9:37 a.m.: Life, Ludington FD: medical call, East Ludington Ave., City of Ludington. 11:41 a.m.:…

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Welcome to the world! Births reported Jan. 25, 2016.

January 25, 2016
Welcome to the world! Births reported Jan. 25, 2016.

Recent births are brought to you by Shelby Gem Factory. See more information about these fine businesses below.  Births took place at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital, unless indicated otherwise.  Briella Kay Malone, the daughter of Bambi and Bryan Malone of Ludington, was born Jan. 20, 2016. Payton Lucas Christoffersen, the son of Lyana and Steven Christoffersen of Scottville, was born Jan. 21, 2016.…

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Car/coyote crash, stolen iPad among police activity.

January 25, 2016
Car/coyote crash, stolen iPad among police activity.

The following is local law enforcement activity Jan. 22-24, 2016: Friday, Jan. 22, 2016: – 4:45 a.m., (Mason County Sheriff’s Office), car/deer crash, no injuries, Stiles and Fountain, Victory Township. – 5:30 a.m., (MCSO), car/deer crash, no injuries, US 10 east of Bean, Custer Township. – 2:30 p.m., (Michigan State Police, Hart post), a 15-year-old female juvenile was apprehended for…

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Protesters picket bar, claim man with Down syndrome discriminated against; owner says it’s retaliation.

January 23, 2016
Protesters picket bar, claim man with Down syndrome discriminated against; owner says it’s retaliation.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. WALHALLA — A group of protestors picketed outside of Riley’s Rendezvous Grille and Tavern, 6626 E. U.S. 10, Saturday afternoon. The group claimed that business owner John Riley had discriminated against Tyler Janicki, 22, because Tyler has Down syndrome. Riley said the protest was about retaliation stemming from an incident that goes back about five years…

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Snowmobiler injured in National Forest.

January 22, 2016
Snowmobiler injured in National Forest.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.  MEADE TOWNSHIP — A 27-year-old Joliet, Illinois man received a broken leg Friday night when the snowmobile he was driving collided with a tree. The crash occurred sometime between 7 and 8 p.m. on Manistee National Forest Trail 8407, otherwise known as snowmobile trail 614, about 1.5 miles north of Free Soil near the Mason-Lake counties line.…

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MCC middle schoolers learn by creating projects.

January 22, 2016
MCC middle schoolers learn by creating projects.

  By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. SCOTTVILLE — Mason County Central Middle School 7th grade students presented their project based learning assignments to visiting elementary students and parents today, Friday, Jan. 22, 2016. This year’s theme was Asia. Students in teacher Phil Quinlan’s social studies classes picked a topic and then had to develop a presentation.

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79th District Court sentencings and dismissals.

January 22, 2016
79th District Court sentencings and dismissals.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — The following were sentenced recently in 79th District Court: – Thomas Tommy-Teague Noa, 31, of 1218 S. Madison Ave., Ludington, was found guilty Jan. 12 of two counts of attempted assaulting/resisting/obstructing police. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail; one year discretionary jail for two years; must have Soberlink installed upon release…

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Fit Club: Jump starting the day with healthy breakfast choices.

January 22, 2016
Fit Club: Jump starting the day with healthy breakfast choices.

CUSTER — Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital’s Win With Wellness Fit Club teaches children about living healthy lifestyles. About once a month, Kathy Grierson and Leona Ashley visit elementary schools in Mason and Oceana counties. The lesson this week at Mason County Eastern was “Jump Start Your Day,” which taught the children about making healthy breakfast choices. – Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. …

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79th District Court arraignments include stalking, writing bad checks.

January 22, 2016
79th District Court arraignments include stalking, writing bad checks.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — The following were arraigned recently in front of the 79th District Court Magistrate: Felonies – Eric Zelek Hoggs, 40, no address listed, was arrested Jan. 13 by the Ludington Police Department (LPD) for felonies of aggravated stalking and using a computer to commit a crime. Probable cause hearing: Jan. 27 at 3 p.m.…

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Shoplifting, hit-and-run among police activity.

January 22, 2016
Shoplifting, hit-and-run among police activity.

The following is recent local law enforcement activity: Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016: – 6:31 a.m., (Mason County Sheriff’s Office), car/deer crash, no injuries, Pere Marquette Hwy. and Iris, Pere Marquette Township. – 8:10 a.m., (MCSO), car/deer crash, no injuries, Jebavy Dr. and Dewey Road, Hamlin Township. – 4:13 p.m., (MCSO), gas drive-off, $20.49 in fuel taken, 5400 block of W.…

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Fire marshall to investigate suspicious fires at apartment house.

January 22, 2016
Fire marshall to investigate suspicious fires at apartment house.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.  SCOTTVILLE — Scottville Fire Chief Dale Larr is calling two separate fires in the same apartment house suspicious after firefighters were called twice to Reinberg Ave. Apartments, 103 N. Reinberg Ave. late Thursday night and early Friday morning. Initially, firefighters were called to a report of a fire in the hallway about 11 p.m. Thursday, Jan.…

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Passing by firefighter extinguishes fire.

January 21, 2016
Passing by firefighter extinguishes fire.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.  SCOTTVILLE — A passing by Custer firefighter took quick action and used a fire extinguisher to put out a fire at an apartment house near downtown Scottville. Scottville and Custer fire departments were dispatched to 111 E. State St. about 7:20 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016, for a report of a structure fire. Residents from the…

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Obituary: Lucinda “Cindy” Patterson, 56, Custer.

January 21, 2016
Obituary: Lucinda “Cindy” Patterson, 56, Custer.

Lucinda “Cindy” Ann Patterson, 56, of Custer passed away Wednesday, January 20,2016 of accidental injuries. Cindy was born January 7, 1959 to Olen and Violet of Lowell, Michigan. Cindy is survived by her husband of 6 years, Greg Patterson of  Custer and her daughter, Angela of Scottville. She is also survived by her brothers, Olen (Rita) Miller of Custer, Ralph…

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Area law enforcement equipped with life-saving antidote.

January 21, 2016
Area law enforcement equipped with life-saving antidote.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. Area law enforcement personnel are being equipped with a antidote that has been proven to save lives. Several police officers went through a training this past week to learn how to administer Narcan, an antidote that is used to counteract an opiate overdose. The distribution of Narcan, also known as Naloxone, is paying paid for through funding…

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Safe Harbor Credit Union offers alternative to overdraft fees.

January 21, 2016
Safe Harbor Credit Union offers alternative to overdraft fees.

LUDINGTON — Safe Harbor Credit Union is offering an alternative to those pesky overdraft fees or the hassle of having to transfer money from your savings account when funds get low in the checking account. “The Safe Harbor Credit Union Share Draft Line of Credit is a great way to protect yourself from overdraft fees and unwanted overdraft transfer fees,”…

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Ever want to operate a lighthouse? Here’s your chance.

January 21, 2016
Ever want to operate a lighthouse? Here’s your chance.

LUDINGTON — The Sable Point Lighthouse Keepers is looking for volunteers to man and operate its lighthouses along the shores of Lake Michigan. The organization manages Big Sable Point Lighthouse at Ludington State Park, Ludington North Breakwater Lighthouse, Little Sable Point Lighthouse at Silver Lake State Park and White River Light Station near Whitehall. The non-profit organization has openings for…

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Obituary: Merritt Bongard, 72, Ludington.

January 21, 2016

The Rev. Merritt Bongard, 72, of Ludington died suddenly on Tuesday, January 19. Merritt Franklin Bongard was born on September 8, 1943, in Alma, Michigan to LeRoy and Eleanor (Root) Bongard.  He attended Alma Public Schools, graduating with the class of 1961.  He loved the West and became an outfitter and a guide for his uncle in the Jackson Hole,…

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