Troopers respond to weekend crashes.

December 8, 2014
Troopers respond to weekend crashes.

HART — The Michigan State Police responded to three separate crashes in Mason County over the weekend: Friday, Dec. 5, 2014 – 8:13 p.m., one-car property damage accident, Custer and Fountain roads, Sherman Twp. – 9:40 p.m., car-deer crash, US-31 and US-10, Amber Twp. Sunday, Dec 7, 2014 – 6:45 p.m., car-deer crash, US-31 and Scottville Rd, Amber Twp. The…

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Welcome to the world! Recent births.

December 8, 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! Kayleana Lynne Mulligan, the daughter of Amanda Mulligan and Dustin Huck of Walhalla, was born Dec. 3, 2014 at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital. Natalia Rannae Young, the daughter of Priscilla Alanis and Nicholas Young of Ludington, was born Dec. 6,…

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Ludington man arrested on warrants, including explosives possession.

December 8, 2014
Ludington man arrested on warrants, including explosives possession.

PERE MARQUETTE TWP. — Deputies from Mason County Sheriff’s Office arrested a 21-year-old Ludington man on multiple warrants, including possession of explosives, following a traffic stop on North Nelson Rd. Saturday at 12:09 p.m. Two warrants were from Ludington Police Department, including a criminal bench warrant and failure to appear. Two other felony warrants were from Ohio including dangerous drugs…

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Ken Motyka, a legend in the black powder world.

December 8, 2014
Ken Motyka, a legend in the black powder world.

Outside the Walls, a blog written by Nick VanderWall, is sponsored by VanderHaag Car Sales, 1680 W. U.S. 10-31, Scottville; 231-757-2727; www.vanderhaagcarsales.com, Mason County’s premier car rental outlet and also Legends Taxidermy of Scottville; 231-757-9589;www.legendstaxidermy.com. It appears here on the second and fourth Monday of the month. As most of us have finished eating the turkey and cleaning our rifles,…

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Rain and snow today.

December 8, 2014
Rain and snow today.

The weather is brought to you by Urka Auto Center, 3736 W. U.S. 10, Ludington, www.urkaautos.com. Monday, Dec. 8, 2014: A mixture of rain and snow showers. Some mixed winter precipitation possible. Temperatures in the mid-30s. Winds south at 10 mph. Chance of precipitation, 90%. Monday night: Rain showers early with overcast skies late. Low 33F. Winds NW at 5 to…

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Hart couple charged for felonious retail fraud, among arraignments.

December 7, 2014
Hart couple charged for felonious retail fraud, among arraignments.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — The following were arraigned recently in front of the 79th District Court Magistrate: Felonies – Melinda Ann VanDerZanden, 30, of 475 E. Lever Rd., Hart, was arrested Dec. 1 by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) for a felony of first-degree retail fraud. A preliminary exam is set for Dec. 10 at 11:15…

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79th District Court sentencings

December 7, 2014
79th District Court sentencings

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — The following were sentenced recently in 79th District Court: – Carl Martin Sali, 65, of 7792 N. 186th Ave., Walkerville, was found guilty Nov. 4 of operating while impaired. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail with credit for two days served; outpatient treatment; 93 days discretionary jail for two years; must…

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Arts center meeting.

December 7, 2014

LUDINGTON — Members of the Ludington Area Center for the Arts will take part in a special membership meeting Tuesday, Dec. 9 at the arts center. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be for the purpose of reviewing and voting on the proposed revisions to the arts center’s bylaws. Revisions which are proposed for the bylaws will enable…

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51st Circuit Court sentencings.

December 6, 2014
51st Circuit Court sentencings.

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON — The following were sentenced Tuesday, Dec. 2, in 51st Circuit Court by Judge Richard I. Cooper: – Brent James Hansen, 47, of 71 S. Campbell Rd., Fountain, was found guilty Oct. 15 of operating under the influence of liquor (OUIL), third offense. He was sentenced to 180 days in jail with credit for…

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Phillips bound over to circuit court; Judge Cooper overturns Judge Wadel’s ruling.

December 5, 2014
Phillips bound over to circuit court; Judge Cooper overturns Judge Wadel’s ruling.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — The open murder case against Sean Michael Phillips will be bound over to circuit court. Judge Richard Cooper, 51st Circuit Court Judge, ruled in favor of an appeal, overturning 79th District Court Judge Pete Wadel’s earlier decision not to bind the case over. Phillips is charged with the 2011 death of his 4-month-old daughter…

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Ludington artist’s work featured at college gallery.

December 5, 2014
Ludington artist’s work featured at college gallery.

VICTORY TWP. – The work of Ludington artist Donald Weir is featured this month in West Shore Community College’s Manierre Dawson Gallery. Born Sept. 27, 1918, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Donald’s mother always said to him that, “On the day you were born, there was a parade!” The men were returning from WWI that year. At the age of three,…

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Prosecutor must prove Judge Wadel made wrong decision in Baby Kate murder case.

December 5, 2014
Prosecutor must prove Judge Wadel made wrong decision in Baby Kate murder case.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — Arguments are being held right now in the 51st Circuit Court appeal case on the dismissed open murder charges against Sean Michael Phillips. In Oct. 2013, the Michigan attorney general’s office filed the charges against Phillips in relation to the June 29, 2012 disappearance of Phillips’ 4-month-old daughter, Katherine Phillips, also known as “Baby…

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Suspicious men attempt to enter homes; drug possession and second-offense DWLS arrests

December 5, 2014
Suspicious men attempt to enter homes; drug possession and second-offense DWLS arrests

PERE MARQUETTE TWP. — Two males in a white van were approaching homes in the Juniper Hills area asking residents for their gas bills as a ruse to gain entry into homes Thursday evening, Dec. 4. Residents reported the suspicious activity to the Mason County Sheriff’s Office at 6:04 p.m. Other recent MCSO activity: Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014 – 7:30…

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Baby Kate murder charge appeal to be heard in court Friday.

December 4, 2014
Baby Kate murder charge appeal to be heard in court Friday.

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — The “Baby Kate” case will return to the Mason County Courthouse Friday afternoon when 51st Circuit Court Judge Richard Cooper will hear oral arguments about the Sept. 15 decision by 79th District Court Judge Peter Wadel to dismiss the open murder case against Sean Phillips. In Oct. 2013, Phillips, 25, formerly of Victory Township,…

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Fountain to hold Christmas celebration.

December 4, 2014
Fountain to hold Christmas celebration.

FOUNTAIN — Santa Claus will be arriving in Fountain via fire truck Saturday, Dec. 13 at 5:15 p.m. A community celebration will be held downtown featuring Christmas tree lighting, cookies, punch and music.

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Energy bill scam targeting businesses.

December 4, 2014

Area business owners are being warned by law enforcement to be aware of a utility scam that is making the rounds. Area businesses are getting calls from individuals representing themselves as Consumers Energy and accusing businesses of not paying their bills. They may request that the business call an answering service they have set up and they may even have specific information…

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Woman identified from Sugar Grove crash.

December 4, 2014
Woman identified from Sugar Grove crash.

SHERMAN TWP. — A 22-year-old Sheridan Township woman received minor injuries after the vehicle she was driving slid off the road and rolled over to its side and struck a tree Wednesday afternoon. Michaelle Radtke was transported to Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital (see related story) by Life EMS ambulance. She was traveling west on Sugar Grove Road about a quarter…

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Cloudy today.

December 4, 2014
Cloudy today.

The weather is brought to you by Urka Auto Center, 3736 W. U.S. 10, Ludington, www.urkaautos.com. Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014: Generally cloudy with a high around 30F. Winds light and variable. Tonight, a few clouds with a low of 27F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Sunset: 5:09 p.m. Sunrise: 8:05 a.m. Friday, Dec. 5, 2014: Cloudy with a high…

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