Chess tourney largest in years

March 3, 2013

LUDINGTON – The 58th Annual Ludington Optimist Youth Chess Tournament was held at Ludington High School on Saturday, March 2. It is the longest-running scholastic tournament in the State. Ninety-nine students from throughout Michigan played five chess games to determine the winners in four divisions. This was the largest turnout in the history of the tournament, breaking the record of…

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Ludington considering allowing outdoor downtown dining

March 2, 2013

LUDINGTON — The Ludington City Council is considering changing the city code and zoning ordinance to allow downtown eating establishments to provide outdoor dining. Currently, under the code and ordinance, establishments must obtain special permission for outdoor dining. With the proposed changes no special permission would be needed to provide outdoor dining as long as the business complies with all…

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Home sweet home

March 2, 2013
Home sweet home

The Kitchen Sink. A blog by Stephanie Wagner. I think it is time to out myself… I haven’t been writing for a multitude of reasons – work has picked up, my family has been crazy busy with sports events, social events, and professional commitments, and this time of year makes me want to spend every spare minute napping or reading…

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Scottville may add chair lift to park pool

March 2, 2013

SCOTTVILLE – The city of Scottville will need to purchase a lift chair for the swimming pool at Riverside Park. The purchase is required by a new law that requires all public schools to provide a lift chair for those with disabilities. The chair must be in place before the pool opens this spring, City Manager Amy Williams reports. The…

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GUILTY

March 1, 2013
GUILTY

By Lisa Enos MCP Correspondent LUDINGTON — It has been said, “If you give some people enough rope, they will eventually hang themselves.” That may have just happened in the case of the People vs. Mark McCallum who was tried in court this week for kidnapping his two children last February. Any chance McCallum had to win over the jury…

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MCC forensics dominates this season

March 1, 2013
MCC forensics dominates this season

By Coach Tom Richert. SCOTTVILLE — Coming off an extremely successful 2012 forensics season, it appears that Mason County Central High School is doing it again this year. Last year’s team finished fourth in the state of Michigan Class B. As-well-as having some very successful firsts; the team finished with nearly 300 points at the state tournament. The team gained 300…

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Mason County wrestlers competing in state finals

March 1, 2013

By Randy Wyman. AUBURN HILLS — Doug Wyman (285) from Mason County Central started the day off on the right foot by pinning his opponent from Capac in the second round.  Trevor Skinner (119) also from MCC followed with a 9-3 win over his opponent from Grand Rapids Catholic Central. Logan Merrick (135) freshman from MCC ran into a buzz saw…

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The paranoia defense?

March 1, 2013
The paranoia defense?

By Lisa Enos  MCP Correspondent LUDINGTON — Mark McCallum will take the stand Friday in an attempt to prove he did not kidnap his children— a crime he is charged with — when he drove them to Key West, Fla. last year. McCallum has spent a fair amount of time attempting to show that Anna Appledorn of Child Protective Services…

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District court

March 1, 2013

LUDINGTON — The following activity took place in 79th District Court this past week: – David Duane Bothwell, 36, 6610 E. Danaher St., Apt. 1, Ludington, was found guilty on Feb. 12 for malicious destruction of personal property. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and also received 1 year discretionary jail for 2 years. He also was ordered…

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What a tool

March 1, 2013

Finding my Way. A blog by Lexi Alvesteffer. 2/28/13 It’s been some time since my last blog entry, 18 days to be exact. A lot has changed in those 18 days and I’ve been spending my time adjusting to my shrinking body and the foods that I’m now allowed to put in it. I can currently have soft proteins. This…

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Arraignments

March 1, 2013

LUDINGTON — The following arraignments took place this week in front of the magistrate of the 79th District Court. – Chelsea Rae Robison, 22, 1028 Brandy Lane, Ludington, was arrested Feb. 22 for the misdemeanor charge of domestic violence. She was released on 10% bond of $2,500 bail. A pretrial district court date of March 25 at 1:30 p.m. has…

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Has defendant hurt his case by defending himself?

February 28, 2013
Has defendant hurt his case by defending himself?

Analysis by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — The kidnapping trial of Mark McCallum is now in its fourth day of testimony. McCallum is accused of taking his then 4- and 2-year-old children out of state in February 2012 while he and his then-wife, Sharon Kludy, were separated and going through a divorce. Kludy had custody of the children through the…

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McCallum tries to prove he took the kids because mom was abusive

February 28, 2013
McCallum tries to prove he took the kids because mom was abusive

By Lisa Enos MCP Correspondent. LUDINGTON – The court heard more testimony Wednesday in the trial of Mark McCallum, who was arrested under a Mason County warrant in Key West, Fla. last year on charges of parental kidnapping. Witnesses were directed by McCallum, who is acting as his own lawyer, to answer numerous questions about the bruises on his son,…

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When I grow up

February 28, 2013
When I grow up

Full Circle. A blog by Thad Ray. As a child I was asked “What do you want to be when you grow up?,” and I honestly can’t think of a day in my life when I woke up and said, “I want to be average.” Though there are things I’m average at, striving for mediocrity has never been part of…

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Key West officer expected to testify Thursday in kidnapping trial

February 27, 2013

LUDINGTON — Technology has gotten in the way of a Key West police officer testifying this afternoon in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court in the trial of Mark McCallum. The police officer was supposed to testify via computer monitor but a firewall on the end of the Key West department caused a glitch. The witness was the police officer who…

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Jury watches police interview with defendant

February 27, 2013

LUDINGTON — The trial of Mark McCallum is in its third day. McCallum is charged with kidnapping his children while he was separated from his now ex-wife. He took his children out of state, ending in Key West. McCallum, who is defending himself, has been trying to prove that he took his children in order to protect them from alleged…

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Scottville auction this weekend

February 27, 2013

By Allison Scarbrough MCP Correspondent. SCOTTVILLE — A sure sign that spring is right around the corner – The Scottville CommUnity Auction is set for Saturday, March 2 at the Scottville Optimist Hall. A joint fundraising effort co-sponsored by the Ludington and Scottville Area Chamber of Commerce and the Mason County Central Educational Foundation, the 18th annual event begins at…

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Downtown Ludington merchants encouraged to attend meeting

February 27, 2013

LUDINGTON — All Downtown Ludington businesses/merchants are invited to attend the next Downtown Club Meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 5 at 8:30 am at the Book Mark. The hour long meeting will continue discussion on this year’s St. Patty’s Day Celebration, the new 50’s Event, an I Love Downtown Promotional Piece, and updates on Task Force Discussions. The Downtown Marketing Committee strongly encourages…

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Witnesses testify against McCallum.

February 27, 2013
Witnesses testify against McCallum.

By Lisa Enos, MCP Correspondent. Ludington — Five witnesses testified Tuesday in the case of the People vs. Mark McCallum, the man charged with kidnapping his two kids during a custody dispute last February. Mason County Sherriff Deputy Mike Hanson, Anna Appledorn of Child Protective Services, Deputy Derrick Wilson of the Mason County Sheriff’s Department, Mike Morrow who works at…

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Free Soil annexation approved

February 26, 2013

FREE SOIL — The Free Soil Community School District will no longer exist as of June 30 of this year. Voters today decided 133 to 8 to annex the district into Mason County Eastern Public Schools. “I credit the Free Soil board of education for doing a good job of explaining the tax issues regarding the annexation vote,” Superintendent Ron…

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Randy Knudsen: Making it look easy on stage

February 26, 2013
Randy Knudsen: Making it look easy on stage

An interview by Cathy Dalton Randy has been playing for over 40 years. You may know him as your electrician from Ludington Electric. His guitar skills are unbelievable to watch. He has passed on his musical talent to his sons. Cathy Dalton: At what age did you start playing guitar? Randy Knudsen: I started playing when I was about 9-years-old.…

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Eats & Drinks

Eats & Drinks

Eats & Drinks

Eats & Drinks