The Light Chaser: Traveling with camera gear

March 15, 2015
The Light Chaser: Traveling with camera gear

The Light Chaser is brought to you by MyProLab.com, a professional photographic lab offering services to the consumer market. MyProLab.com, the official photographic lab of Media Group 31 (our parent company) and Alway Photography. The Light Chaser. A blog by Rob Alway. Chapter 8: Traveling with camera gear. Traveling with camera gear can be a somewhat daunting task, especially when…

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The Millennials: Providing small town health care.

March 14, 2015
The Millennials: Providing small town health care.

Editor’s Note: Sustaining a community and keeping it vibrant requires diversity on many levels, especially among age groups. An unintended movement the last few years has been the increased number of millennials who have taken a role in community and business leadership in Mason County. A millennial, also known as Generation Y, is defined as a person who was born…

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Watch for these credit score myths.

March 14, 2015
Watch for these credit score myths.

Good Neighbor Tips from Erin Doan, State Farm Insurance, Scottville,www.erindoan.com. Your credit score is complex, but your understanding doesn’t have to be. Take note of these six common credit score myths so that you can work to improve your rating, not hurt it.   Myth #1: It’s impossible to improve credit score. The truth: You can rebuild credit over time…

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Advocates will serve as voices for abused and neglected children.

March 13, 2015
Advocates will serve as voices for abused and neglected children.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. See video here. LUDINGTON — Abused and neglected children of Mason and Oceana counties have new advocates to be their voices. During a ceremony Thursday at the Mason County Courthouse, six volunteers were sworn in as court appointed special advocates (CASA) for children. Leading the ceremony were Mason County Probate Judge Jeffrey Nellis and Oceana County…

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Spring-like weather amps up car-deer crashes

March 13, 2015
Spring-like weather amps up car-deer crashes

The police news is sponsored by VanderHaag Car Sales of Scottville, 231-757-2727, www.vanderhaagcarsales.com and Springstead Law Offices, with locations in Hart and Fremont, 231-873-4022 (Hart),www.springsteadlaw.com. Local law enforcement activity Thursday, March 12, 2015 includes: – 6:10 a.m., (MCSO), car/deer crash, no injuries, Sugar Grove and Custer, Sherman Twp. – 6:50 a.m., (MCSO), car/deer crash, no injuries, Jebavy and Fisher, Hamlin…

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Taking stock in the arts.

March 12, 2015
Taking stock in the arts.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — Several dozen people gathered Thursday night at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts to discuss the state of the arts in the community. The stakeholders meeting included artists, community leaders, teachers and others who have an interest in the arts community. Small groups answered questions about the art center and the local arts:…

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Lake Jump postponed until April.

March 12, 2015
Lake Jump postponed until April.

LUDINGTON — The annual Ludington Lake Jump, which was scheduled for March 21, has been postponed to Saturday, April 11, due to ice. Linda O’Brien of the Lake Jump committee said she has spoken with city officials who agree that at this time there is no easy access to open water at Stearns Park beach. Proceeds from this year’s Lake Jump…

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Cyber security topic of chamber program.

March 12, 2015

LUDINGTON — Cyber security will be the topic of this month’s Breakfast Bites program, which will be held on Thursday, March 19 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Mason County District Library Ludington branch. The program is sponsored by the Ludington & Scottville Area Chamber of Commerce and SCORE.  Admission is $5 for members, $10 for non-members, and includes…

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Probation/parole check leads to unregistered handgun arrest

March 12, 2015
Probation/parole check leads to unregistered handgun arrest

The police news is sponsored by VanderHaag Car Sales of Scottville, 231-757-2727, www.vanderhaagcarsales.com and Springstead Law Offices, with locations in Hart and Fremont, 231-873-4022 (Hart),www.springsteadlaw.com. VICTORY TWP. — A 51-year-old Ludington man was arrested by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) and probation/parole agents Wednesday, March 11, at 8:28 p.m. after he was found in possession of an unregistered handgun…

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79th District Court arraignments include retail fraud, strangulation, resisting police

March 12, 2015
79th District Court arraignments include retail fraud, strangulation, resisting police

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — The following were arraigned recently in front of the 79th District Court Magistrate: Felonies – Allen Michael Mallison, 26, of 1710 White, Free Soil, was arrested March 7 by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) for a felony of first-degree retail fraud. Probable cause hearing: March 18 at 1:15 p.m. Preliminary exam: March…

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79th District Court sentencings

March 12, 2015
79th District Court sentencings

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — The following were sentenced recently in 79th District Court: – Teresa Marie Gee, 19, of 402 Fourth St., Apt. 2, Ludington, was found guilty March 9 of allowing a person to drive in violation and sentenced to one day in jail with credit for one day served;; 90 days discretionary jail for one…

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More sunshine expected today.

March 12, 2015
More sunshine expected today.

The weather report is sponsored by Cottage Renovators, 231-425-6597, www.cottagerenovators.com.  Thursday, March 12, 2015: Patchy fog before 11 a.m. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 48. East southeast wind 7 to 10 mph. Tonight:  Mostly clear, with a low around 33. South southeast wind around 11 mph. Sunrise: 8:05 a.m. Sunset: 7:48 p.m.  Friday, March 13, 2015:  Mostly sunny,…

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Home and garden show will be in new venue this year.

March 11, 2015

MANISTEE TWP. (Manistee Co.) — The Home Builders Association of West Michigan will hold its annual Home and Garden Show this weekend at a new venue. Over the past several years, the show has been at the Mason County Fairgrounds in Pere Marquette Township. This year’s venue will be the Little River Casino Resort north of Manistee. “Originally the show…

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Vietnam War photographer returns to area for presentation, healing sessions.

March 11, 2015
Vietnam War photographer returns to area for presentation, healing sessions.

VICTORY TWP. — Vietnam veteran and photographer John Hosier, Jr. will be returning to the Ludington area on Thursday, March 19 and Friday, March 20, to talk about his experiences during the war. Hosier’s photography exhibit, “Through the Eyes” was on display last August during the Mason County Allied Veterans Traveling Wall Project at Ludington City Park. John will hold…

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Habitat for Humanity collecting shoes for fundraiser.

March 11, 2015

AMBER TWP. — Habitat for Humanity of Mason County, in partnership with Community Recycling, is collecting gently used shoes, that will be sent to new owners around the world. From South America and Africa to areas in the United States, the recycled shoes will go to help people and communities in over 50 countries. Through ShoeBox Recycling’s SoleMate Note initiative, recyclers…

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St. Patrick’s Day celebration at library.

March 11, 2015

LUDINGTON — The Mason County District Library Ludington branch will hold a St. Patrick’s Day party on Tuesday, March 17 at 4 p.m. The free event will feature stories, crafts and games. It is open to children of all ages; children under age 8 must be accompanied by an adult.  

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Glenn Miller Orchestra to perform at Ramsdell Theatre.

March 11, 2015
Glenn Miller Orchestra to perform at Ramsdell Theatre.

VICTORY TWP. – The West Shore Community College Performing Arts Series and the Ramsdell Theatre and Community Arts Center will host the world famous “Glenn Miller Orchestra” at the historic Ramsdell Theatre in Manistee, on Wed., March 18, at7:30 p.m. According to the co-director of the Performing Arts Series and Professor of WSCC Music Ted Malt, “The first ‘Glenn Miller Orchestra’…

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Food pantry receives grant for handicap accessibility.

March 11, 2015
Food pantry receives grant for handicap accessibility.

CUSTER — Caritas Food Pantry recently received a $3,750 grant from the Great Lakes Energy People Fund. The grant money will be used to pour cement at the entrance of the pantry providing handicap accessibility for clients. The pantry is located in the former St. Mary’s School on South Madison Street. In addition to adding accessibility, the cement drive will…

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74-year-old man arrested for drunk driving after alleged reckless driving

March 11, 2015
74-year-old man arrested for drunk driving after alleged reckless driving

The police news is sponsored by VanderHaag Car Sales of Scottville, 231-757-2727, www.vanderhaagcarsales.com and Springstead Law Offices, with locations in Hart and Fremont, 231-873-4022 (Hart),www.springsteadlaw.com. CUSTER TWP. — A 74-year-old Sault Sainte Marie man was arrested for operating while intoxicated following a “be on the lookout” for a reckless driver call in the area at US-10 and Poplar Road Thursday,…

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Welcome to the world! Recent births.

March 11, 2015

Welcome to the world! Jayden Frederick Gehring, the son of Deanna and Jason Gehring of Free Soil, was born March 3, 2015 at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital. Bentley Joseph Patterson, the son of Mia Charbonneau and Dylan Patterson of Ludington, was born March 5, 2015 at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital. Jennifer Leanna Han, the daughter of Katelyn Han of Ludington, was born March…

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Fog in the morning, temps in low 40s.

March 11, 2015
Fog in the morning, temps in low 40s.

The weather report is sponsored by Cottage Renovators, 231-425-6597, www.cottagerenovators.com.  Wednesday, March 11, 2015: Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 41. Northwest wind around 6 mph. Wednesday night: Patchy fog after 10pm. Otherwise, partly cloudy, with a low around 25. Light and variable wind. Sunrise: 8:08 a.m.  Sunset: 7:46 p.m.  Thursday, March 12, 2015: Sunny, with a high…

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