County expected to endorse tech park

April 9, 2013

LUDINGTON — The Mason County Board of Commissioners is expected to pass a resolution supporting the proposed Great Lakes Technology Park tonight during its regular meeting. The State of Michigan has issued a request for proposals provide data hosting facilities to house essential electronic data that will enable the state government to better serve its citizens. The proposal request includes…

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Washington Avenue bridge construction approved

April 8, 2013
Washington Avenue bridge construction approved

LUDINGTON — The Ludington City Council approved an agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation during its regular meeting Monday night. Construction work on building a new bridge is scheduled to begin in late May or early June. City Manager John Shay construction is expected to be completed sometime before the end of the year. MDOT’s Local Bridge Fund will…

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Downtown noise levels to be discussed Thursday

April 8, 2013

LUDINGTON — The City of Ludington Buildings and Licenses committee will meet Thursday at 3:30 p.m. to discuss downtown noise levels. The discussion stems from the request of some downtown merchants who complained the 90 decibel sound level being proposed in the new outdoor dining ordinance is too loud. During the March 19 city council meeting Nate Petersen, owner of Backstage…

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First sailing

April 8, 2013
First sailing

LUDINGTON — The PM 41 barge and its tug boat The Undaunted left Ludington harbor for the first time this shipping season Monday afternoon. The barge was heading to Burns Harbor, Ind. to pick up a load of steel slag for Rieth-Riley’s Ludington operation. The trip is also the first for the tug’s new engines. The tug and barge are…

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Panel will discuss agri-tourism

April 8, 2013

AMBER TWP. — The public is invited to attend a presentation on the future of Agri-Tourism in Mason County on April 18th at 7 p.m. at the Mason County Reformed Church at 45 South Amber Road. The panel will address value-added products and experiences and its effects on business. All agricultural-related businesses and interested individuals are invited to attend. Panelists…

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County to hire windmill flicker monitor

April 8, 2013

LUDINGTON — Mason County will soon have a part-time seasonal employee whose purpose will be to monitor the flicker caused by wind turbines in the Lake Winds Energy Park in Riverton and Summit townships. The county commission is expected to approve the $2,500 a year position at its regular meeting Tuesday night. Zoning and Building Director Mary Reilly told the…

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Dunlap expected to be appointed to planning commission

April 8, 2013

LUDINGTON — Dennis Dunlap is expected to be appointed to the Mason County Planning Commission Tuesday during the regular meeting of the Mason County Board of Commissioners. Dunlap was selected among four people who were interviewed last week in front of the county’s Buildings, Planning, Drains and Airport committee. He is the president of Westshore Engineering of Muskegon and resides…

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Former bank employee to be sentenced today for embezzlement

April 8, 2013

GRAND RAPIDS – Stacy Lynn Ahlgren, a former employee of Northwestern Bank in Ludington, is scheduled to be sentenced today at 2 p.m. in Grand Rapids federal court. Ahlgren pleaded guilty to embezzlement in December 2012.  The longtime bank employee took nearly $900,000 from the bank over five years. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Jonker placed Ahlgren on a $50,000…

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Fire destroys Fountain barn and trailer

April 7, 2013
Fire destroys Fountain barn and trailer

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief FOUNTAIN — Five fire departments battled a fire north of the village this afternoon. Fountain Area and Free Soil/Meade fire departments were called to the Bob Peters and Marie Chellis residence, 5514 N. Poplar Road, around 5 p.m. for a pole barn fire. The barn and a single-wide unoccupied mobile home were fully engulfed in flames.…

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Fire destroys Fountain barn and trailer

April 7, 2013
Fire destroys Fountain barn and trailer

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief FOUNTAIN — Five fire departments battled a fire north of the village this afternoon. Fountain Area and Free Soil/Meade fire departments were called to the Bob Peters and Marie Chellis residence, 5514 N. Poplar Road, around 5 p.m. for a pole barn fire. The barn and a single-wide unoccupied mobile home were fully engulfed in flames.…

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This is soup?

April 7, 2013
This is soup?

Moonlighting: A blog by Judy Cools. One of my husband’s associates gifted us at Christmastime with a basket of edibles. Most everything has been enjoyed long since, but there remained a package of soup mix that looked awfully good this afternoon. A simmering feast of fresh Tortilla Soup — Mmmmm. Tortilla Soup is one of my favorites, so I had…

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Great Start collaboratives, parent coalitions doing more

April 7, 2013

LANSING – More parents and providers of early childhood services think a greater number of Michigan’s young children have gained access to education, child care and health and mental health services over the past two years, and that parents are playing a larger role in making sure those services are available, according to a new report released today by the Early Childhood…

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Lake Jump helps raise $19,500 for Pregnancy Care Center

April 6, 2013
Lake Jump helps raise $19,500 for Pregnancy Care Center

UPDATED: LUDINGTON — The 2013 Ludington Lake Jump helped West Shore Pregnancy Care Center raise at least $19,500 toward its goal of paying off the $40,000 debt on its building (see related story here). A large crowd braved the cold temperatures of Lake Michigan this morning for the 14th annual Ludington Lake Jump. “It was awesome,” said Vic Burwell of…

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Circuit court

April 6, 2013

LUDINGTON – The following sentencings took place this week in 51st Circuit Court.   –          William Geoffrey Buchanan, 23, was sentenced April 2 for the Feb. 13 conviction of child abuse third degree. He was sentenced to 365 days in jail, serving 6 months up front and balance at court’s discretion; 24 months probation; $498 fines/costs. Two other counts –…

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District Court

April 6, 2013

LUDINGTON – The following proceedings took place this week in 79th District Court.   – Ronnie Zuniga Jr., 29, 105 S. Wildwood Crossing, Apt. 16, Ludington, was found guilty on April 2 for retail fraud second degree. He was sentenced to 31 days in jail; 1 year discretionary jail for 2 years; must report to jail for 7 actual consecutive…

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Arraignments

April 6, 2013
Arraignments

LUDINGTON – The following were arraigned this week in 79th District Court:   KEY: MCSD: Mason County Sheriff’s Dept.; LPD: Ludington Police Dept.; SPD: Scottville Police Dept.; MSP: Michigan State Police; SSCENT: State, Sheriff’s, Chief’s Enforcement Narcotics Team. OUIL: Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of liquor. Felonies –          Arthur Frederick Bennett III, 50, 6000 E. Free Soil…

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Rotta appeals denial for police shooting reports

April 5, 2013
Rotta appeals denial for police shooting reports

LUDINGTON — Ludington resident Tom Rotta is appealing a denial by the Ludington Police Department for information regarding a police shooting that took place last summer. Rotta had requested, through the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, to inspect or receive copies of records in the case against Lowell Fetters. On June 26, 2012, Fetters allegedly shot Ludington Police Sgt. David…

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Ludington to consider yield signs near schools

April 5, 2013

LUDINGTON — Ludington City Council is expected to act on traffic control order’s issued by Police Chief Mark Barnett during its regular meeting Monday night at 6:30 p.m. The orders establish yield signs in or near crosswalks at locations near schools in the city limits. The signs are being established because traffic hazards to pedestrians exist. Those locations include: North…

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Hart state police post receives 3 new troopers

April 5, 2013
Hart state police post receives 3 new troopers

HART – Three recently graduated state police troopers have been assigned to the Michigan State Police Hart Post. They include Alexander Hammerle of Mt.Pleasant, Aaron Tubergen of Holland and Barry Wolf of HowardCity. They were among 90 troopers who recently graduated from the 124thTrooperRecruitSchool. Governor Rick Snyder served as the keynote speaker at the graduation ceremony, held last week. “The…

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Washington Avenue bridge construction to begin later this spring

April 5, 2013

LUDINGTON — Construction work on building a new Washington Avenue bridge is scheduled to begin in late May or early June. The Michigan Department of Transportation’s Local Bridge Fund will pay for 95 percent of the estimated $2.2 million bridge re-build. The City of Ludington will cover the remaining 5 percent, or $111,000, from its Major Street Fund. The city…

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Scottville chief interviews scheduled

April 5, 2013

SCOTTVILLE — Interviews have been scheduled for the Scottville part-time police chief candidates. See related story here. The interviews will take place Thursday, April 11 beginning at 3:15 p.m. in front of the city’s public safety committee, along with City Manager Amy Williams and Police Chief Mark Barnett. One of the candidates, Karl Weidle of Troy declined an interview. The…

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Eats & Drinks

Eats & Drinks

Eats & Drinks

Eats & Drinks