Safe breaker who stole cremation urn faces prison time.

February 9, 2016
Safe breaker who stole cremation urn faces prison time.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — A 19-year-old Ludington man who pleaded guilty in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Feb. 9, to safe breaking and resisting a police officer, faces two-and-a-half to 15 years in prison. Trenton Joseph Espinola, of 222 E. Melendy St., testified that on August 21 he went into a house; opened a safe; and stole $300…

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Habitat for Humanity hosting workshop.

February 9, 2016

PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — Mason County Habitat for Humanity is hosting a workshop for those interested in qualifying for a Habitat house in Mason County. The workshop will be held on Saturday, Feb. 27 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church of Ludington, 5810 W. Bryant Rd. The workshop will provide general knowledge about Habitat for Humanity…

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Woman pleads guilty to prescription drug larceny.

February 9, 2016
Woman pleads guilty to prescription drug larceny.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — A 49-year-old Riverton Township woman pleaded guilty in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Feb. 9, to one felony count of larceny in a building for stealing the prescription drug, Norco, from a home in the 2900 block of Schwass Road. Melissa Anne Brand-Ray, of 2569 W. Kinney Rd., was arrested last December by the…

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Weapons conviction leads to jail term.

February 9, 2016
Weapons conviction leads to jail term.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — A 30-year-old Ludington man who held his mother at knifepoint attempting to acquire drug money last June was sentenced in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Feb. 9, to serve nine months up front of an 11-month discretionary jail sentence, with credit for 248 days served. Howard Mark Larson, of 5607 N. Stiles Rd., initially…

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Farmer Education Day scheduled for Feb. 19.

February 9, 2016
Farmer Education Day scheduled for Feb. 19.

SCOTTVILLE — The Oceana, Mason-Lake and Manistee conservation districts will host a Farmer Education Day on Friday, Feb. 19 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Scottville Optimist Center. The free event is open to anyone who is interested in agriculture, forestry and watershed protection. Keynote presentation will be by Tim McKay from Blarney Castle Oil Company. For those…

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Legion to hold Sweetheart Dance.

February 9, 2016

LUDINGTON — The American Legion Post 76 is holding a Sweetheart Dance on Saturday, February 13, 2016.  The Skeleton Crew band will play from 7 to 11 p.m.  Hors d’oeuvres to share are welcomed.  This event is open to Legion members and their guests.  

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Sheriff: Gun wielded in road rage incident.

February 9, 2016
Sheriff: Gun wielded in road rage incident.

AMBER TOWNSHIP — Witnesses observed a passing motorist hold up a handgun following a road rage incident Monday, Feb. 8, at 11:30 a.m. at US 10 and Stiles, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. Other local law enforcement activity Monday, Feb. 8, 2016 includes: – 12:44 p.m., (Mason County Sheriff’s Office), snowmobile trespassing, complainant reports ongoing issues with snowmobiles…

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Suspect in overdose death identified.

February 8, 2016
Suspect in overdose death identified.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — Jacob James Walton, 24, of Muskegon, has been arraigned in 79th District Court in connection with the overdose death of a 28-year-old Ludington resident. Adam Johnson died of a heroin overdose on Jan. 22, 2016 in Pere Marquette Township. Walton has been charged with one count of delivery of a controlled substance (heroin) causing death,…

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Salvation Army in need of food items.

February 8, 2016
Salvation Army in need of food items.

LUDINGTON — The Salvation Army of Mason and Oceana counties is in need of food items to stock its emergency food pantry, according to Major Craig Stoker. The Salvation Army provides emergency food to area families and individuals who express a food emergency.  An average of 130 requests for emergency food are received at The Salvation Army during a month.  The…

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Beekeepers to meet Thursday, Feb. 18.

February 8, 2016

SCOTTVILLE — The Scottville Beekeepers of Mason County will meet on Thursday, Feb. 18 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Scottville Area Senior Center, 140 S. Main St. The meeting will include:    A representative from the USDA Mason/Lake Conservation District, who will speak about wild plants for pollinators’ habitat. A beginning discussion on honey “Bee-ology”, from wings to stingers.

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Shakespeare Reading Group continues to read “Pericles, Prince of Tyre.”

February 8, 2016

LUDINGTON — The Shakespeare Reading Group continues its reading of “Pericles, Prince of Tyre” when it meets Thursday, Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts. The group picks up with Act III. The SRG is open to all who have a “Love of Shakespeare” and meets once a month for about two hours to read…

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No school for MCC Friday and Monday.

February 8, 2016
No school for MCC Friday and Monday.

SCOTTVILLE — Mason County Central students will enjoy a long weekend as there is no school for them on Friday, February 12, or Monday, February 15.  Staff will be participating in an all-day inservice on Friday, while Monday is the district mid-winter break day.  Building and central offices will be open until 3 p.m,. on Friday and closed all day Monday.

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Larceny, fraud, domestic assaults among police activity.

February 8, 2016
Larceny, fraud, domestic assaults among police activity.

Local law enforcement activity over the weekend includes: Friday, Feb. 5, 2016: – 12:34 a.m., (Ludington Police Department), assault, 200 block of S. James St., City of Ludington. – 5:29 a.m., (Mason County Sheriff’s Office), domestic assault, E. Wilkinson Rd., Custer Township. – 11:20 a.m., (Michigan State Police, Hart post), a 25-year-old Branch man was arrested on an outstanding warrant…

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13-year-old South Carolina teen charged in Christian school bomb threat.

February 8, 2016
13-year-old South Carolina teen charged in Christian school bomb threat.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — A 13-year-old Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina teen has been charged in Jan. 19 bomb threat at Covenant Christian School in Amber Township. Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole announced this morning that the teen was involved in online gaming with two local teens. The teen has been charged in South Carolina under a felony punishable…

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Welcome to the world! Recent births, reported Feb. 8, 2016.

February 8, 2016
Welcome to the world! Recent births, reported Feb. 8, 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.  Greysen Charles Davis, the son of Paige Hinkle and Randy Davis of Custer, was born Feb. 1, 2016. June Lillian Vinton, the daughter of Jennifer Parrinello and Bruce Vinton of Scottville, was born Feb.…

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Recent death, reported Feb. 8, 2016.

February 8, 2016

Louis E. Alvesteffer, of Ludington, and formerly of Pentwater, passed away on February 6, 2016.  Arrangements by King Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Ludington. See MCP death notice archives here.

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Man revived after kayak flips in Big Sable River.

February 7, 2016

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. HAMLIN TOWNSHIP — A 42-year-old Ludington man has been hospitalized following a near-drowning this afternoon at Ludington State Park. According to Mason County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Steve Hansen, the man was riding in a kayak when it flipped over near the Big Sable River dam. Hansen said he was participating in a video shoot. The…

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STEAM mentors needed.

February 7, 2016
STEAM mentors needed.

Contributed by Ron Beeber. PENTWATER — ​The importance of bolstering student interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics — STEAM — was the subject of a program for the Pentwater Service Club, Feb. 4.   Aaron Myers, of the Michigan State University Extension office in Scottville, discussed the “4-H Tech Wizards” program that’s being introduced in…

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Service club asks for community to help scouts fund a hiking trek of a lifetime.

February 7, 2016
Service club asks for community to help scouts fund a hiking trek of a lifetime.

PENTWATER — The Pentwater Service Club is calling on area individuals and organizations to join it in helping Boy Scout Troop 1145 raise the final $4,000 needed so eight local scouts and five adults can undertake a rugged, 12-day backpacking trek at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico this summer. “We’re down to the ‘final four,’” said Scoutmaster Rick…

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Sheriff’s Office makes arrest in Covenant Christian School bomb threat.

February 5, 2016
Sheriff’s Office makes arrest in Covenant Christian School bomb threat.

LUDINGTON — The Mason County Sheriff’s Office has announced that it has arrested an out-of-state individual in connection to the January 19, 2016 bomb threat at Covenant Christian School in Amber Township. The threat, which was made by email, occurred just after noon on that day and meant that the school’s 90 students and its staff members had to be…

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Deputies arrest suspect in overdose death.

February 5, 2016

LUDINGTON — Deputies from Mason County Sheriff’s Office have arrested a Muskegon man in connection with the Jan. 28, 2016 overdose death of Adam Johnson, 28, Ludington. The overdose took place in Pere Marquette Township. The suspect has been charged with one count of delivery of a controlled substance causing death, a felony punishable by up to life in prison, along…

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