Fraud among police activity.

April 14, 2016
Fraud among police activity.

The following is local law enforcement activity Wednesday, April 13, 2016: – 2:29, (Ludington Police Department), property damage crash, E. Ludington Ave. and N. Atkinson, City of Ludington. – 3:53 p.m., (LPD), fraud, 500 block of N. Sherman St., City of Ludington. – 3:54 p.m., (LPD), fraud, 700 block of Sherman Oaks Dr., City of Ludington. – 9:41 p.m., (Mason…

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Smith & Eddy’s Amy Reynolds keeps busy helping local organizations.

April 14, 2016
Smith & Eddy’s Amy Reynolds keeps busy helping local organizations.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. Amy Reynolds stays pretty busy volunteering for a variety of local organizations, when she isn’t helping customers at Smith & Eddy Insurance. The Ludington native said she helps with organizations such as Fraternal Order of Eagles, Chrome Divas of Ludington and the American Legion. “I have walked the Mackinac Bridge for Labor Day, the Relay for…

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Vehicle in rollover crash reported stolen.

April 14, 2016
Vehicle in rollover crash reported stolen.

SUMMIT TOWNSHIP — Warrants are being sought for a 60-year-old Holland man for operating while intoxicated and possession of a stolen vehicle following a rollover crash Wednesday afternoon, April 13, on the northbound lane of US 31 near the Ludington rest area .   “During the investigation, it was learned the vehicle he was operating was reported stolen out of…

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Finding Vaughn Flewelling is sheriff’s office top priority, sheriff says.

April 13, 2016
Finding Vaughn Flewelling is sheriff’s office top priority, sheriff says.

 By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — Finding missing business owner Vaughn Flewelling is the number one priority of deputies and detectives at the Mason County Sheriff’s Office, according to Sheriff Kim Cole. Cole said detectives have been working on the case nearly non-stop since the sheriff’s office was alerted Monday morning of the 47-year-old’s disappearance. “Our detectives worked on this…

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Health department raising awareness of immunizations.

April 13, 2016

Each year, thousands of children become ill from diseases that could have been prevented by basic childhood immunizations. Countless more miss time from daycare and school because they aren’t up to date on immunizations. During the week of April 16-23, 2016 District Health Department #10 (DHD#10) is participating in National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW) to raise awareness about the importance…

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Public hearing scheduled on Area Agency on Aging.

April 13, 2016

SCOTTVILLE — The Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan (AAAWM) is seeking public comment on its Draft Multi-Year Implementation Plan (MYP) for fiscal years 2017-2019, which run from October 1, 2017 through September 30, 2019. The plan includes goals and objectives defining how federal Older Americans Act and state Older Michiganians Act funds will be spent to support home and…

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Break-in, drunk driving among police activity.

April 13, 2016
Break-in, drunk driving among police activity.

The following is local law enforcement activity Tuesday, April 12, 2016: – 6:40 a.m., (Mason County Sheriff’s Office), car/deer crash, no injuries, US 31 and Sugar Grove Rd., Victory Township. – 8 a.m., (MCSO), car/deer crash, no injuries, Quarterline and Koenig roads, Grant Township. – 8:05 a.m., (Ludington Police Department), breaking and entering, N. Franklin St., City of Ludington. –…

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Crime spree yields prison term.

April 12, 2016
Crime spree yields prison term.

By Allison Scarbrough. Courts/Police Editor. LUDINGTON — A 19-year-old Ludington man received concurrent prison terms Tuesday, April 12, in 51st Circuit Court for convictions of safe breaking; resisting a police officer; larceny in a building; and possession with intent to deliver marijuana. Trenton Joseph Espinola, of 222 E. Melendy St., was ordered by Judge Susan K. Sniegowski to serve two…

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Scottville man faces jail term for resisting arrest.

April 12, 2016
Scottville man faces jail term for resisting arrest.

By Allison Scarbrough. Courts/Police Editor. LUDINGTON — A 27-year-old Scottville man is looking at serving five months up front of a one-year discretionary jail term after pleading guilty Tuesday, April 12, in 51st Circuit Court to two felony counts of assaulting/resisting/obstructing police. Donald Thomas Miller, of 203 S. Crowley St., was arrested on Atkinson Drive in the City of Ludington,…

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Ludington man pleads to CSC.

April 12, 2016
Ludington man pleads to CSC.

By Allison Scarbrough. Courts/Police Editor. LUDINGTON — A 25-year-old Ludington man who pleaded guilty Tuesday, April 12, in 51st Circuit Court to one count of attempted third-degree criminal sexual conduct (CSC) and delivery of marijuana to a minor faces one year in jail. Shon Michael Gascoigne, of 607 E. Melendy St., testified Tuesday that he attempted to commit digital sexual…

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Sex case adjourned due to deportation possibility.

April 12, 2016
Sex case adjourned due to deportation possibility.

By Allison Scarbrough. Courts/Police Editor. LUDINGTON — A final conference hearing in a criminal sexual conduct (CSC) case was adjourned in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, April 12, because the defendant has not yet consulted with an immigration attorney. Arturo Ruiz Lopez, 59, of 605 S. Washington Ave., Ludington, appeared in court with his attorney, Ryan Glandville, and a Spanish-English translator,…

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Hamlin business owner still missing.

April 12, 2016
Hamlin business owner still missing.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.  HAMLIN TOWNSHIP — The Mason County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation into the disappearance of Hamlin Grocery owner Vaughn Flewelling. Deputies found the license plate to the 47-year-old’s 2006 Lincoln Town Car at his Victory Township residence. Sheriff Kim Cole said it is possible Flewelling changed the plates himself. The sheriff said that there has been no activities on…

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Scottville woman arrested for felonious assault.

April 12, 2016
Scottville woman arrested for felonious assault.

SCOTTVILLE — A 28-year-old Scottville woman was arrested for felonious assault by Michigan State Police troopers from the Hart post Monday, April 11, at 8:05 p.m. in the 200 block of East Second Street. No other information about the incident was immediately available. The following is other local law enforcement activity Monday, April 11, 2016: – 11:09 a.m., (Scottville Police…

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Scottville to sound emergency siren Wednesday afternoon.

April 12, 2016

SCOTTVILLE — The City of Scottville will sound its city-wide emergency siren about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, as part of a state wide tornado drill. The drill is in observation of Michigan’s Severe Weather Awareness Week.  Mason County Emergency Management is calling upon community members to take action to prepare by participating in the drill at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April…

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Obituary: Gerald Lloyd Couturier, 86, Ludington.

April 12, 2016
Obituary: Gerald Lloyd Couturier, 86, Ludington.

Gerald Lloyd Couturier, 86, of Ludington passed away on Monday, April 11, 2016 at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital.  Gerald was born on May 31, 1929 in Lake Leelanau, Michigan, one of 11 children of David and Laura (Brow) Couturier, and served his country during the Korean Conflict with the United States Army.  On May 25, 1957 he married Lorraine Lewis…

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Great Lakes Energy People Fund accepting grant applications.

April 12, 2016

The Great Lakes Energy People Fund is accepting grant applications from non-profit organizations throughout its local service area. The upcoming grant application deadline is June 1. The People Fund is supported solely by Great Lakes Energy members who allow the electric cooperative to round up their bill each month to the next dollar. Since 1999 more than $2.88 million in…

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Fair board considering alternatives to large animal auction.

April 11, 2016
Fair board considering alternatives to large animal auction.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.  CUSTER — The Western Michigan Fair Association is considering proposals for operating the 2016 large animal auction. During a nearly four hour meeting, the fair board heard three proposals for the auction, which came as a result of the West Michigan Livestock Council failing to maintain its 501(c)3 non-profit status and its failure to file taxes…

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Hamlin Grocery owner Vaughn Flewelling reported missing by family.

April 11, 2016
Hamlin Grocery owner Vaughn Flewelling reported missing by family.

UPDATED at 5:25 p.m. HAMLIN TOWNSHIP — Hamlin Grocery owner Vaughn Flewelling has gone missing, according to family members, who have posted on Facebook that he was last seen letting an employee out of the store at 10 p.m. Sunday. Vaughn locked the door and continued to work in the store. Neither Vaughn nor his vehicle have been seen since. Flewelling…

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Vegas is coming to Ludington this Saturday.

April 11, 2016
Vegas is coming to Ludington this Saturday.

LUDINGTON — Habitat for Humanity of Mason County will hold its second Lud Vegas fundraising event on Saturday, April 16, at the Stearns Ballroom in the Stearns Hotel in downtown Ludington. Tickets are $75 or $130 per couple and are available here, which includes one free beer, dinner and appetizers including prime rib. Gamers will leave with prizes and a…

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Local director’s newest film “God’s Not Dead 2” is a bold stance for Christians.

April 11, 2016
Local director’s newest film “God’s Not Dead 2” is a bold stance for Christians.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. Over the weekend, I watched a very scary movie, it was titled “God’s Not Dead 2.” This movie, a piece of fiction inspired by true events, is scary because it’s about an Arkansas high school history teacher who was lecturing about the passive resistance movements of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. During the…

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Franz to serve as delegate at national GOP convention.

April 11, 2016
Franz to serve as delegate at national GOP convention.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. ONEKAMA — State Representative Ray Franz will be among the delegates representing  Michigan’s First Congressional District during the Republican National Convention to be held in Cleveland July 18-21. The First Congressional District includes the entire Upper Peninsula and about a third of the northern Lower Peninsula, including the northern portion of Mason County and all of…

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