79th District Court sentencings include drug charges, disorderly.

January 7, 2016
79th District Court sentencings include drug charges, disorderly.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — The following were sentenced recently in 79th District Court: – Kelly Marie Jason, 28, of 883 Bernie Lane, Madison Heights, Michigan, was found guilty Dec. 30 of use of narcotic/cocaine/methamphetamine/ecstasy. She was sentenced to 28 days in jail with credit for two days served; one year discretionary jail for two years; driver’s license…

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College offices closed Friday.

January 7, 2016

VICTORY TOWNSHIP – West Shore Community College offices will be closed on Friday, January 8, while the faculty and staff participate in a winter semester in-service. The College will close in order to promote professional development and training in a day-long series of concurrent, multi-disciplinary workshops. This will also provide faculty, administrative and support staff an opportunity to network and…

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Obituary: Connie Newkirk, 68, Amber Township.

January 6, 2016

Constance Marie (Mates) Newkirk of Amber Township, Scottville passed away on Monday, January 4, 2016 at her home.  Connie was born November 10, 1947 in Gratiot County, Michigan, to Carl and Ruth (Richards) Mates, and attended St. Louis schools, graduating with the class of 1965.  She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Education and Master’s Degree in English from Central Michigan…

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MCC to hold needs assessment meeting Jan. 13.

January 6, 2016

SCOTTVILLE — Mason County Central Public Schools is inviting the public to attend a meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016 to discuss the district’s classrooms, buildings, grounds, and facilities in general. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at the high school library. If people are unable to attend but would like to share comments they can email…

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Warrant arrests, car/deer crashes among police activity.

January 6, 2016
Warrant arrests, car/deer crashes among police activity.

The following is local law enforcement activity Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2015: – 7:30 a.m., (Mason County Sheriff’s Office), car/deer crash, no injuries, Scottville and Conrad roads, Custer Township. – 9:04 a.m., (MCSO), damaged property – mailbox, 2000 block of Lenz Rd., Pere Marquette Township. – 4:58 p.m., (MCSO), illegal dumping, 100 block of North Jebavy Dr., PM Township. – 5:49…

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WSCC to hold auditions for spring production.

January 6, 2016

VICTORY TOWNSHIP  – West Shore Community College announces auditions for the March production of “Breaking the Code,” written by Hugh Whitemore, and based on the book “Alan Turing: The Enigma,” by Andrew Hodges, which was recently made into the movie, “The Imitation Game.”   Auditions will be held on Jan. 11-14, from 6:30-8 p.m., at the following locations: Jan. 11 –…

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Obituary: Joseph Whitaker, 67, Custer.

January 6, 2016
Obituary: Joseph Whitaker, 67, Custer.

Joseph Howard Whitaker, 67, of Custer died suddenly on Monday, January 4, 2016.  Joe was born on June 4, 1948 in Ludington, the son of Harry and Meg (Wing) Whitaker.  On October 27, 1965 he married his best friend Linda Forbes and they have celebrated 50 blessed years together. Joe had many interests and wore several hats in his life. …

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Recent deaths, reported Jan. 6, 2016.

January 6, 2016

Addie Jean Hoge, 63, of Fountain passed away on Monday, January 4, 2016 at Butterworth Hospital Grand Rapids. Arrangements by Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Ludington. Lyford Young, 79, of Greensboro, NC passed away on Sunday, January 3, 2016. Arrangements by Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Ludington. See MCP death notice archives here.

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Home invader sent to jail.

January 5, 2016
Home invader sent to jail.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — A 25-year-old Mount Morris, Michigan man was sentenced Tuesday, Jan. 5, in 51st Circuit Court to serve six months up front of a one-year discretionary jail sentence for a conviction of second-degree home invasion. In exchange for Michael Scott Bailey’s guilty plea last November, six felony counts were dismissed, which include three felony…

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Ludington woman faces prison for receiving, concealing.

January 5, 2016
Ludington woman faces prison for receiving, concealing.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — A 35-year-old Ludington woman who pleaded guilty Tuesday, Jan. 5, in 51st Circuit Court to receiving and concealing stolen property more than $1,000/less than $20,000 and second-offense habitual offender faces to two to seven years in prison. Andrea Benet King Pena, of 309 N. Washington Ave., testified that on Oct. 29 she found…

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Fountain man sent to jail for attempted assault.

January 5, 2016
Fountain man sent to jail for attempted assault.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — A 60-year-old Fountain man was sentenced to serve 90 days in jail up front of a one-year discretionary term for a conviction of attempted felonious assault in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Jan. 5. Thomas Lee Tribble, of 4851 N. Cleveland St., pleaded guilty to the charge last November. Tribble initially faced felony counts…

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Allendale man sentenced to jail for attempted sexual assault.

January 5, 2016
Allendale man sentenced to jail for attempted sexual assault.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — A 24-year-old Allendale man was sentenced to one year in jail for attempted first-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC) with a child under the age of 13 in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Jan. 5. William Rhody Dwyer, Jr., testified last November that the inappropriate touching of the young girl occurred between the time span…

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Fountain man sentenced to jail for 4th-degree CSC.

January 5, 2016
Fountain man sentenced to jail for 4th-degree CSC.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — A 26-year-old Fountain man currently lodged in the Lake County Jail was sentenced in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Jan. 5, to a one-year jail term for a conviction of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC). In addition to the jail term, Michael Ryan Albaugh, of 6694 E. Oak Ridge, was sentenced to five years…

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Off-duty deputy’s heroic efforts save child, man from drowning.

January 5, 2016
Off-duty deputy’s heroic efforts save child, man from drowning.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. HART — Mason County Sheriff’s deputy Brandon Romero’s quick thinking saved a local man and a 6-year-old boy from drowning on the west side of the Hart Dam Saturday morning, Jan. 2. Romero got up early that chilly morning with outside temperatures in the mid-20s to hit a few different spots to do some steelhead…

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Recent deaths, reported Jan. 5, 2016.

January 5, 2016

Joseph Whitaker, 67, of Custer passed away Monday, January 4, 2016.  Arrangements by Wyman Funeral & Cremation Services – Stephens Funeral Home, Scottville. Constance “Connie” Newkirk, 68, of Scottville passed away Monday, January 4, 2016. Arrangements by Wyman Funeral & Cremation Services – Stephens Funeral Home, Scottville. See MCP death notice archives here.

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College receives planning authorization for Tech. Center upgrades.

January 5, 2016

VICTORY TOWNSHIP – West Shore Community College has received planning authorization from the State of Michigan for a project to renovate and add on to its Technical Center after Governor Rick Snyder signed a supplemental appropriation bill on December 30, 2015. The project was given the highest priority ranking by the state Department of Technology, Management and Budget (DTMB) amongst community…

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Retail fraud, DWLS arrests among police activity.

January 5, 2016
Retail fraud, DWLS arrests among police activity.

The following is local law enforcement activity Monday, Jan. 4, 2015: – 5:30 a.m., (Mason County Sheriff’s Office), car/deer crash, no injuries, Sugar Grove and Darr roads, Sherman Township. – 3:40 p.m., (Michigan State Police, Hart post), a 26-year-old woman (hometown not available) was arrested for retail fraud, 4000 block of US 10, Pere Marquette Township. – 3:43 p.m., (MCSO),…

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Rural fire authority may seek tax increase to fund trucks.

January 4, 2016
Rural fire authority may seek tax increase to fund trucks.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. CUSTER — The Mason County Rural Fire Authority plans to ask tax payers for a .5 mill increase to replace 13 of its trucks that it purchased 20 years ago in the August election, including seven 1998 pumpers and six 2000 tankers.  Chuck Keller, chairman of the rural fire authority, recently sent a letter to the…

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