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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Custer woman who died in Oceana crash identified.

January 21, 2016
Custer woman who died in Oceana crash identified.

CRYSTAL TOWNSHIP (Oceana County) — Lucinda Patterson, 57, of Custer, died Wednesday afternoon after her vehicle collided with a semi truck. The crash occurred about 4 p.m. at the intersection of 120th Avenue and East Jefferson Road in northern Oceana County. According to the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office, Patterson was traveling west in a 1999 Chevrolet Suburban around a curve,…

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Fire damages Pentwater home.

January 21, 2016
Fire damages Pentwater home.

  PENTWATER — Fire caused extensive damage to a house at 478 E. Lowell Street late Wednesday night. The fire was discovered by Pentwater Police Officer Alexander Schulz about 11:43 p.m. Schulz immediately called for the fire department, according to Police Chief Laude Hatrum. Upon arrival the fire department observed flames were coming through the floors in the kitchen of…

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Gym Bears: Keeping kids active at Ludington Athletic Club.

January 20, 2016
Gym Bears: Keeping kids active at Ludington Athletic Club.

  By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.  LUDINGTON — As a varsity wrestling coach Dan Fulton has noticed a change in physical education. Over the past several years he has noticed that kids don’t seem to have the proper basic warm-up skills, such as knowing how to perform a pushup. He decided to do something about it. Dan and his wife, Letha, own…

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Custer woman dies in crash with oncoming semi.

January 20, 2016
Custer woman dies in crash with oncoming semi.

CRYSTAL TOWNSHIP (Oceana County) —  A 56-year-old Custer woman was killed when her vehicle slid into the path of an oncoming semi truck and trailer Wednesday, Jan. 20, at approximately 4 p.m. at the intersection of 120th Avenue and East Jefferson Road, according to an Oceana County Sheriff’s Office press release.   OCSO is investigating the accident and will have…

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Bomb threat remains under investigation.

January 20, 2016
Bomb threat remains under investigation.

AMBER TOWNSHIP — The bomb threat at Covenant Christian School Tuesday, Jan. 19, at 12:07 p.m. remains under investigation by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, according to a press release issued by Sheriff Kim Cole Wednesday morning, Jan. 20. “The Mason/Oceana 911 Center received a call from staff at the Covenant Christian School of a bomb threat the school had…

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Congressional candidate, Jason Allen, visits Ludington.

January 20, 2016
Congressional candidate, Jason Allen, visits Ludington.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — Jason Allen is concerned with the direction the United States is heading. He’s concerned about the future for his children and grandchildren. For this reason, the Traverse City business owner has decided to run for Congress. Allen was in Ludington Tuesday to formally announce he is running for the House of Representatives, representing Michigan’s…

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Welcome to the world! Recent births reported Jan. 20, 2016.

January 20, 2016
Welcome to the world! Recent births reported Jan. 20, 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.  Raelynn Anderson Moored, the daughter of Cathy and Lon Moored of Ludington, was born Jan. 15, 2016. David Kian Russell Patterson, the son of Tiera Pierce and Thayne Patterson of Ludington, was born…

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Recent death, reported Jan. 20, 2016.

January 20, 2016

The Rev. Merritt Bongard, 72, of Ludington died suddenly on Tuesday, January 19. Funeral arrangements are pending at Wyman Funeral & Cremation Services – Stephens Funeral Home, Scottville. See MCP death notice archives here.

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Protecting our kids — a coordinated effort.

January 19, 2016

Editorial by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. On Dec. 14, 2012, Mason County Sheriff-Elect Kim Cole was driving home from the Michigan State Sheriff’s Association Sheriff School. Kim had been elected just over a month prior to that, after spending over 25 years as a road deputy. He received a phone call from then-Custer Fire Chief John Allison (who has since passed away).…

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Congressman speaks out against President’s gun control plan.

January 19, 2016
Congressman speaks out against President’s gun control plan.

Letter to the Editor, by Rep. Dan Benishek, Michigan’s 1st Congressional District.  Some of the fondest memories of my youth involve heading out into the woods western Upper Peninsula to hunt with friends and family.  My father had been killed in a mining accident when I was a kid, but I learned to hunt and shoot from people in our community…

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No bomb found; Covenant Christian School will be open Wednesday.

January 19, 2016

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. AMBER TOWNSHIP — Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole has given the all clear at Covenant Christian School. The school received a bomb threat about noon today. At 4:57 p.m. the school texted its staff and parents stating the sheriff had declared the school safe and that school is scheduled to resume Wednesday, Jan. 20. A bomb…

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Man pleads guilty to embezzlement from vulnerable adult.

January 19, 2016
Man pleads guilty to embezzlement from vulnerable adult.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — A 53-year-old Riverton Township man pleaded guilty in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Jan. 19, to embezzlement from a vulnerable adult and stealing/retaining a financial transaction device without consent. In exchange for Dean Alan Drake’s guilty pleas to the two counts, two other counts of stealing/retaining a financial transaction device without consent were dismissed.…

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Man pleads guilty to attempted home invasion, burglar tool possession.

January 19, 2016
Man pleads guilty to attempted home invasion, burglar tool possession.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — A 42-year-old Amber Township man pleaded guilty in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Jan. 19, to possession of burglar tools and attempted first-degree home invasion. Jeffery Thomas Nitz, of 3786 W. Forest Hill Circle, testified that last November he used a drywall scraper to pry open a door in the 3700 block of Forest…

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Area Churches