Two men sentenced to jail for felony drug charges.

December 16, 2014
Two men sentenced to jail for felony drug charges.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — Two men were sentenced on drug possession charges this afternoon in 51st Circuit Court. Austin Martin Billings, 21, of 212 E. Melendy St., Apt. 3, was initially charged with two felony drug charges following a Sept. 19, 2014 arrest by Ludington Police Dept. Bryan Patrick Lund, 28, of 195 Monroe St., Apt. A, Manistee,…

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Plainwell man sentenced for stealing from church.

December 16, 2014
Plainwell man sentenced for stealing from church.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — A 17-year-old Plainwell man who broke into a downtown Ludington church was sentenced to one year in jail today during 51st Circuit Court. On Nov. 12, Marek Juergen Witkowski, of 633 Brigham, Plainwell, pleaded guilty to safe breaking and larceny of Greater Life Church, 208 S. James St. Witkowski was arrested Sept. 26 by…

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Manistee couple arrested on fraud warrants; stolen car mix-up top sheriff activity

December 16, 2014
Manistee couple arrested on fraud warrants; stolen car mix-up top sheriff activity

HAMLIN TWP. — A 52-year-old Manistee woman and a 54-year-old Manistee man, who are husband and wife, were arrested by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office Monday, Dec. 15, at 8:49 a.m. in the 1900 block of Lakeshore Drive on warrants issued by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. The woman was arrested on a felony fraud and a misdemeanor contempt of…

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Welcome to the world! Recent births.

December 16, 2014
Welcome to the world! Recent births.

Birth announcements are sponsored by ABC Kidz/Purple Monkey, 123 E. Ludington Ave. Check them out here on Facebook.  Welcome to the world! Cain Jadiel Hernandez, the son of Guadalupe and Rodolfo Hernandez Jr. of Ludington, was born Dec. 8, 2014 at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital. Adalynn Rae Hilton, the daughter of Sara and Robert Hilton of Pentwater, was born Dec. 8, 2014…

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Hospital staff assists public with Affordable Care Act.

December 16, 2014

LUDINGTON — Spectrum Health staff worked with nearly 50 families this past Saturday from Mason, Oceana, Lake and Manistee counties to explain options to help them choose between the various plans available to them for health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act. They also made appointments for additional enrollment help, and assisted people with how to sign up for…

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Rainy today with snow showers tonight.

December 16, 2014
Rainy today with snow showers tonight.

The weather is brought to you by Urka Auto Center, 3736 W. U.S. 10, Ludington, www.urkaautos.com. Sunrise: 8:15 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2014: Rain showers before 4 p.m., then rain and snow showers likely. Temperature falling to around 36 by 5 p.m. Breezy, with a light and variable wind becoming north northwest 19 to 24 mph in the afternoon. Chance of…

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Cops help make Christmas special for some area children.

December 15, 2014
Cops help make Christmas special for some area children.

VIDEO HERE. By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief.  PERE MARQUETTE TWP. — Thirty children got to shop with an area police officer Monday night during the Shop with a Cop program. The popular program has been lapse for a couple of years but is being revived this year by Ludington Police Officer Tony Kuster. Ten children were selected from each of the county school…

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Branch robbery may be related to Muskegon County robbery.

December 15, 2014
Branch robbery may be related to Muskegon County robbery.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief.  BRANCH TWP. — Investigators from Michigan State Police are trying to determine if a Saturday night armed robbery at a northeastern Muskegon County store and Friday night’s armed robbery in Branch are related. Det. Lt. David Johnson of the MSP Hart post said the Bailey Grocery Store, located just south of the Newaygo County line, was…

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Ludington man arrested for parole violation

December 15, 2014
Ludington man arrested for parole violation

AMBER TWP. — A 41-year-old Ludington man was arrested for a parole violation by troopers from the Hart post of the Michigan State Police Saturday, Dec. 13, at 4:40 p.m. in 100 block of North Stiles Road. MSP troopers also responded to a car-deer accident Sunday, Dec. 14, at 8:55 a.m. at U.S.-31 and Meisenheimer Road overpass in Summit Township.…

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‘Tis the season for scamming.

December 15, 2014
‘Tis the season for scamming.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. HART — After a utility bill scam was reported earlier this month in Mason County, now Oceana County law enforcement is receiving similar complaints. Hart Police Chief Dan Leimback said he has received two complaints today, Dec. 15, of an apparent phone scam that involves callers fraudulently claiming to be City of Hart employees seeking…

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The music of the holidays, West Shore style

December 15, 2014
The music of the holidays, West Shore style

VICTORY TWP. — The West Shore Community College holiday concert series concludes this week. Sunday evening the concert choir performed an afternoon show. It will do a repeat performance Tuesday, 7 p.m., at the college’s Center Stage Theater. On Wednesday, the WSCC Symphony and Chamber Winds perform a holiday concert, also in the theater. Photos courtesy of Al Geist/Geist Arts.

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Hit and run, larceny from a vacant home among sheriff’s office weekend activity

December 15, 2014
Hit and run, larceny from a vacant home among sheriff’s office weekend activity

HAMLIN TWP. — A 28-year-old Ludington man was cited for failure to report a crash after Mason County Sheriff’s Office deputies located him following a rollover hit-and-run crash at Lakeshore Drive and Dahlke Road Saturday, Dec. 13, at 3:10 a.m., according to police. No injuries were reported. MCSO also responded to a larceny at a vacant home Saturday at 11:39…

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Drizzle and fog today.

December 15, 2014
Drizzle and fog today.

The weather is brought to you by Urka Auto Center, 3736 W. U.S. 10, Ludington, www.urkaautos.com. Monday, December 15, 2014: A chance of drizzle after 1 p.m. Patchy fog. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 47. South wind around 11 mph. Tonight: Showers. Low around 39. Southeast wind 6 to 8 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts of less…

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Christmas in Fountain.

December 13, 2014
Christmas in Fountain.

FOUNTAIN — Santa Claus arrived in Fountain Saturday night, by way of fire truck. The community celebrated with Christmas carols, sleigh rides for kids, cookies and hot chocolate.

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Robbery suspect still being sought.

December 13, 2014
Robbery suspect still being sought.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. BRANCH TWP. — The Michigan State Police Hart Post has released more information about Friday night’s armed robbery at the Branch Grocery. Investigators are searching for a male, approximately 6-feet tall with a medium build. The suspect was wearing a grey zip-up style hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, worn low around the waist. The two store clerks…

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UPDATE: No one injured in Branch robbery.

December 12, 2014
UPDATE: No one injured in Branch robbery.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. UPDATED: BRANCH TWP. — Police are investigating an armed robbery that took place around 6 p.m. Friday night at Branch Grocery Store, 9455 E. U.S. 10. A white male, armed with a handgun, apparently threatened the two employees working with a handgun. No one was injured during the robbery. Troopers from the Michigan State Police Hart…

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Branch Twp. store robbed at gun point.

December 12, 2014
Branch Twp. store robbed at gun point.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. BRANCH TWP. — Law enforcement is on scene at the Branch Grocery Store, 9455 U.S. 10, investigating an armed robbery that took place there about 6 p.m. Troopers from Michigan State Police along with deputies from Mason County and Lake County sheriffs’ offices are on scene, including K-9 units. A male suspect being described as 200-pounds,…

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Honoring His Honour

December 12, 2014
Honoring His Honour

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — The courtroom at the Mason County Courthouse was full today, but not for a court case. Instead, it was full of well-wishers who came to honor Judge Richard I. Cooper, who has served as 51st Circuit Court judge since 1979. Judge Cooper will retire on Dec. 31 and will be replaced by Susan Sniegowski,…

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Area Churches