Badger now has 2 years to stop dumping ash

March 22, 2013

Ludington — The S.S. Badger has been given another chance by the federal government. Lake Michigan Carferry, owner of the Badger, has signed a consent decree agreement with the Department of Justice and the Environmental Protection Agency that will require the Badger to end the ash discharge within two years. According to a statement from LMC, the agreement is a…

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Four sentenced in circuit court

March 22, 2013

LUDINGTON — Bobby Neal Harris, 27, 612 N. Lakeshore Dr., Rm. 15, Ludington was found guilty on March 21 in 51st Circuit Court for violating his probation. The violation stems from a 2012 conviction of carrying weapons with unlawful intent. He was sentenced to two to five years prison for each count along with $1,148 in fines and costs. Nicholas…

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District court

March 22, 2013

LUDINGTON — The following proceedings took place this week in 79th District Court. Sentences – Matthew Joseph Stock, 21, 602 E. Melendy St., Ludington, was found guilty on March 19 for driving while license suspended/revoked/denied. He was sentenced to 93 days discretionary jail for one year, 12 months probation and a $285 fine/costs. He was also found guilty of failure…

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Adult craft night at library

March 22, 2013
Adult craft night at library

LUDINGTON — Tuesday, April 2 at 6 p.m. crafters are invited to the Ludington Library to create fabric flowers.  This activity is open to adults only.  Supplies are provided at no charge, but donations are appreciated.

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Arraignments

March 22, 2013

LUDINGTON — The following people were arraigned this week in front of the magistrate in 79th District Court. Agency 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. Felonies – Larry Casarez Ramirez, 56, 2352 S. Meyers Road, Riverton Twp., was arrested on March…

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Arts council to hold reception for photo contest, Safe Haven project

March 22, 2013

LUDINGTON — Ludington Area Arts Council is in the midst of two fundraising projects that will be celebrated together at a reception in early April.  The 5th Annual Online Photo Contest was held in February.  Judging is currently underway.  The Safe Haven project continues through the month of March with a silent auction of birdhouses on exhibit at Ludington Area…

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Jazz vocalist to perform at art center

March 21, 2013
Jazz vocalist to perform at art center

VICTORY TWP. — New York City jazz vocalist Carolyn Leonhart swings into West Michigan on Friday, April 5, for a 7:30 p.m. concert at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts.  The concert is part of the 2012-13 West Shore Community College Performing Arts Series. Carolyn Leonhart is a jazz singer, daughter of noted jazz bassist Jay Leonhart and sister…

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Firefighters continue to fight Oasis fire; community remembers

March 21, 2013
Firefighters continue to fight Oasis fire; community remembers

Story and photos by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. BRANCH, Sweetwater Twp., Lake Co. — Carr Community Fire Chief Bruce Burke sat in a fire truck late this morning, eating a pastry and trying to get warmed up. He was monitoring the still-smoldering Oasis Bar. The bar, located at the Mason-Lake counties line on U.S. 10, was destroyed early this morning. Burke…

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MCC’s Jacobs a finalist for Hart superintendent

March 21, 2013

HART — Mason County Central High School Principal Brad Jacobs is one of four finalists for the position of superintendent of Hart Public Schools. Mlive.com has reported that Jacobs, along with Rick Heitmeyer, superintendent of Buckley Community Schools; Mona Shores principal Mark Platt and Breckenridge Community Schools superintendent Sean McNatt, are the four finalists. Heitmeyer is also a finalist for…

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Oasis Bar destroyed by fire

March 21, 2013
Oasis Bar destroyed by fire

Story and photos by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. VIDEO BELOW. BRANCH — John and Michelle Hare watched helplessly as their business burned to the ground early Thursday morning. Fire departments from Lake and Mason counties fought the fire, but they were unable to save the Oasis Bar, located on the county line at the corner of U.S. 10 and Tyndall Road.…

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A young movement is taking place in Mason County

March 21, 2013

Our View. Megan Payment says she won’t run for Ludington mayor this year (see related stories). But, the effort, led mostly by “younger” area residents was encouraging. There seems to be a movement in the area of these younger business owners and community activists. For many years this area has been known as a place where people come to retire.…

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Ludington superintendent search narrowed to 3

March 20, 2013

LUDINGTON — The Ludington Area Schools board of education has narrowed its superintendent search from six to three. The board wrapped up its interviews Wednesday and will conduct the second round of interviews on Wednesday,, April 17 during a special meeting. Those candidates who have been asked to come back include: Karen Sherwood, superintendent/K-12 administrator of Boyne Falls Public Schools;…

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Payment says she is not running for mayor

March 20, 2013

LUDINGTON — Megan Payment announced in a press release today that she is definitely not going to run for Ludington mayor this year. The question of Payment running for the city’s top elected position became public Saturday when a group of Payment’s friends entered the Ludington St. Patrick’s parade campaigning for the downtown business owner to run for office. “No one…

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Ground Water Association recognizes Franz

March 20, 2013
Ground Water Association recognizes Franz

  State Rep. Ray Franz, second from right, has been named “Legislator of the Year” by the Michigan Ground Water Association and presented the group’s 2012 Political Appreciation Award for his efforts to protect ground water in Michigan. “Representative Franz has been a friend of the Michigan Ground Water Association for many years, working tirelessly on behalf of the association…

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Emily St. house fire extinguished quickly

March 20, 2013
Emily St. house fire extinguished quickly

LUDINGTON — A quick response from Ludington Fire Department saved a house on South Emily Street this afternoon. Kendra McClellan and Brian Mauer were in the living room of their second floor apartment at 603 1/2 S. Emily when Kendra smelled smoke. “It smelled like bacon,” she said. Brian said he went to check into it and saw smoke coming…

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The Mitten Bar, a state of mind

March 20, 2013
The Mitten Bar, a state of mind

By THAD RAY MCP Correspondent LUDINGTON — The Mitten Bar is the new kid on the block when it comes to the bar scene in Ludington. It’s also one of the hottest beer bars in the world according to Draft Magazine, both in 2012, and 2013. Co-Owners Megan Payment and Brian Josefowicz have turned a passion for craft beer and…

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Eagles

March 20, 2013
Eagles

Moonlighting A blog by Judy Cools I was taking our son up to Traverse City the other day. The roads were clear, the sun was shining, and it was good traveling weather. We travel the back roads, saving time and being quietly pleased with ourselves that we know a route which many people don’t. As we went down one particular…

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Bacon turns down plea bargain

March 20, 2013

LUDINGTON — Former Mason County Eastern business manager Robert Bacon turned down a plea bargain Tuesday morning in circuit court. Bacon, who is represented by attorney Ryan Glanville of Ludington, chose not to accept the prosecutor’s plea agreement of serving one year in the Mason County Jail and paying $19,000 in restitution to MCE. Bacon is charged with one count…

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