Local author to speak at writers’ series.

February 5, 2016
Local author to speak at writers’ series.

LUDINGTON — The Winter Writers’ Series sponsored by Mason County Historical Society and the Sable Points Lighthouse Association continues Thursday, February 18 with a presentation about Lincoln Township, a ghost town that once was the Mason County seat, on the north side of the Lincoln River. The 7 p.m. lecture will be held at the Ludington Area Center of the Arts Gallery, 107 S. Harrison Street.…

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Shoplifting, larceny of cash among police activity.

February 5, 2016
Shoplifting, larceny of cash among police activity.

Recent local law enforcement activity includes: Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2016: – 8:30 a.m., (Michigan State Police, Hart post), car/deer crash, Chauvez Rd. and Brye Rd., Pere Marquette Township. – 9:50 a.m., (MSP), one-car crash, no injuries, Kinney Rd. and Morton Rd., Riverton Township. – 6:41 p.m., (MSP), a 32-year-old Ludington woman was arrested for retail fraud at Walmart, PM Township.…

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79th District Court arraignments include strangulation, assaulting police.

February 5, 2016
79th District Court arraignments include strangulation, assaulting police.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — The following were arraigned recently in front of the 79th District Court Magistrate: Felonies – Jarid Hunter Billings, 22, of 214 E. Melendy St., Apt. 4, Ludington, was arrested Jan. 28 by the Ludington Police Department (LPD) for felonies of assault by strangulation, felonious assault and weapons – felony firearm and a misdemeanor…

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Recent court sentencings.

February 5, 2016
Recent court sentencings.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON —  Michael Kim Brechtelsbauer, 57, of 5502 Circle Drive, Standish, Michigan, was found guilty Dec. 1 of third-offense operating under the influence of liquor (OUIL). He was sentenced Jan. 19 to serve three months up front of a 270-day jail sentence with credit for two days served; two years probation; $1,208 in fines and…

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Sculpture plans continue for east side of county.

February 5, 2016
Sculpture plans continue for east side of county.

CUSTER — Residents of the Village of Custer will be asked their thoughts on what type of sculpture should be on display in the village. The sculpture will be part of the Mason County Sculpture Trail, which currently has sculptures predominantly in Ludington and also at Ludington State Park. The Village of Fountain is currently in the process of building a…

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Obituary: Dorothy Mae Darke, 88, Scottville and Ludington.

February 5, 2016

Dorothy Mae (Olson) Darke, age 88 of Scottville and Ludington passed away on February 3, 2016 at Oakview Medical Care Facility in Ludington. Dorothy was born on April 6, 1927 at her family home on Rath Avenue in Ludington to the late William and Edith (Larson) Olson. She attended Ludington Public Schools. She married Louis Clayton Darke on February 6,…

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Recent deaths, reported Feb. 5, 2016.

February 5, 2016

Thomas Joseph Pierceall, 73, of Manitou Beach, Michigan passed away January 31, 2016 at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital. Arrangements by Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Ludington. Dorothy Mae (Olson) Darke, 88, of Scottville and Ludington passed away on February 3, 2016 at Oakview Medical Care Facility in Ludington. Arrangements by Oak Grove Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Ludington. Lois…

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For Smith & Eddy’s Joe Knowles, community involvement is part of living life.

February 4, 2016
For Smith & Eddy’s Joe Knowles, community involvement is part of living life.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. SCOTTVILLE — Joe Knowles loves working with people, whether it’s at his workplace, Smith & Eddy Insurance, or being involved in the community. Joe is a graduate of Mason County Central High School and West Shore Community College and has been with Smith & Eddy since 2009, where he is now vice president, a partner and an…

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Closings and cancellations, Feb. 4, 2016.

February 4, 2016

Closings and cancelations are sponsored by Abrahamson’s Towing of Ludington: 231-843-2990. –  The blood drive scheduled at Mason County Eastern scheduled for February 19 has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for a date in March or April.

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Crews working to lift sunken boat.

February 3, 2016
Crews working to lift sunken boat.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — Crews have been on scene and in the process of raising a sunken fishing boat out of Pere Marquette Lake this afternoon. Sometime over the weekend, the commercial fishing boat Sandy sunk into the channel near Washington Avenue bridge. The trap net boat is licensed by the Little River Bank of Ottawa Indians. According…

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New county treasurer selected.

February 3, 2016

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — Andrew Kmetz IV was selected this morning to be the new Mason County treasurer. Kmetz was one of five candidates who were interviewed for the position by the Mason County Appointment Authority, which consisted of Mason County Clerk Cheryl Kelly, Mason County Probate Judge Jeff Nellis and Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola. The position…

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Grand Ole Opry movie will have limited showing at cinema; ticket sales raise funds for St. Jude’s.

February 3, 2016
Grand Ole Opry movie will have limited showing at cinema; ticket sales raise funds for St. Jude’s.

AMBER TOWNSHIP — Carmike Harbor 8 Cinema will present the film “American Saturday Night: LIve From The Grand Ole Opry” on Feb. 12, 13, 14 and 15. Part of the ticket sales will go to St. Jude’s Country Cares for Kids Campaign. The show that made country music famous brings some of the genre’s most popular artists to the big…

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Hawley, Christmas receive new job titles at WSCC.

February 3, 2016
Hawley, Christmas receive new job titles at WSCC.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. VICTORY TOWNSHIP — West Shore Community College’s president, Ken Urban, has recently announced some administrative changes. Urban was hired as president in July 2015. In an email to college employees, Urban stated: “Since arriving on campus back in mid-July, I’ve been actively listening to and gathering input from employees both individually and in groups, observing how we…

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Closings and cancelations, Feb. 3, 2016.

February 3, 2016

Closings and cancelations are sponsored by Abrahamson’s Towing of Ludington: 231-843-2990.Closed for Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2016: Walkerville Public Schools. Baldwin Community Schools.

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Franz co-sponsors Blue Star Mother’s resolution

February 2, 2016
Franz co-sponsors Blue Star Mother’s resolution

LANSING – State Rep. Ray Franz, R-Onekama, co-sponsored House Resolution 204 last week to declare Feb. 2 Blue Star Mothers Day in the state of Michigan. Franz represents Mason, Manistee, Benzie and Leelanau counties in the State House of Representatives. Blue Star Mothers is a national organization founded in Flint in 1942 that consists of mothers whose sons and daughters…

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Closings and cancellations, Feb. 2, 2016.

February 2, 2016

Closings and cancelations are sponsored by Abrahamson’s Towing of Ludington: 231-843-2990. Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2016: Ludington High School JV and Varsity basketball games against Muskegon Heights, scheduled for tonight, have been postponed due to weather.

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Driver arrested for giving false info police following crash.

February 2, 2016
Driver arrested for giving false info police following crash.

SUMMIT TOWNSHIP — A 24-year-old Baldwin man was arrested for giving false information to a police officer; failure to report an accident; second offense driving while license suspended (DWLS); and no insurance Monday, Feb. 1, at 3:52 a.m. after Mason County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Michigan State Police troopers from the Hart post responded to a one-vehicle crash at Pere…

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Fire destroys Thunder Lake cottage.

February 1, 2016
Fire destroys Thunder Lake cottage.

  By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. SHERIDAN TOWNSHIP — A family cottage on Thunder Lake was destroyed by fire Monday night. Fire crews were dispatched to 6029 Trail Ridge Road shortly after 8:30 p.m. A resident who lives on the south side of the lake reported seeing flames on the north side of the lake. Fountain Area Fire Department and Free…

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School door safety campaign funds reach over 65% of goal.

February 1, 2016
School door safety campaign funds reach over 65% of goal.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.  SCOTTVILLE — The fund raising campaign to purchase and install door safety devices in all area schools has exceeded 65% of its goal. This morning, donations were received from Smith & Eddy Insurance ($1,000) and Shelby State Bank ($1,000). Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole is leading up the fundraising effort, which will purchase an item known…

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Elderly man arrested for choking victim; Silly-String spar leads to arrests.

February 1, 2016
Elderly man arrested for choking victim; Silly-String spar leads to arrests.

BRANCH TOWNSHIP — A 76-year-old Walhalla man was arrested by deputies from the Mason County Sheriff’s Office Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, at 7:15 p.m., at a residence in the 7300 block of E. US 10, where he allegedly choked the victim. In separate incident, deputies arrested a 24-year-old Muskegon man and a 26-year-old Muskegon woman at Walmart in Pere Marquette…

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Welcome to the world! Births reported Feb. 1, 2016.

February 1, 2016
Welcome to the world! Births reported Feb. 1, 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.  Asher Alexander Perez, the son of Maribel Trejo and Marco Perez of Shelby, was born Jan. 25, 2016. Charles Harrison Feutz, the son of Chelsea and Mark Feutz of Ludington, was born Jan. 27,…

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