This MCP Boat Blog is presented by Manistee Harbor Tours, operator of the Princess of Manistee, and the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, www.masoncountymihistory.org. Story and photos by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief MANISTEE — Chasing freighters is a bit like fishing. Sometimes everything comes together perfectly. Other times, the ship has other plans. The MV Northern Venture made her first visit of the 2026…
PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — A 67-year-old Itasca, Ill. man and his 58-year-old female passenger, also from Itasca, Ill., both received serious injuries after he pulled off of the northbound US 31 off-ramp to Pere Marquette Highway and into the path of a southbound vehicle, operated by a 38-year-old Mooresville, Ind. man, who was not injured, Sunday, Aug. 2, at 3:18…
BRANCH TOWNSHIP — A 42-year-old Branch man was arrested for fleeing and eluding police and driving while license revoked after he led a Mason County sheriff’s deputy on a chase while riding a motorcycle Saturday night, Aug. 1, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. “At 10:03 p.m., on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, a Mason County deputy attempted a traffic…
The police news is a presentation of Smith & Eddy Insurance, serving west Michigan since 1902, smith-eddy.com. The following is recent police activity in Mason County: Friday, July 31, 2026: 6:43 a.m., (Mason County Sheriff’s Office), alarm activation, Pere Marquette Township. 1:35 p.m., (MCSO), assault, 100 block of South Reinberg Road, City of Scottville. The complainant reported being assaulted early…
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief BATH, Maine — A new U.S. Navy warship honoring one of Ludington’s greatest military heroes was christened Saturday at Bath Iron Works, ensuring the legacy of Medal of Honor recipient Master Chief Hospital Corpsman William Richard Charette will sail with the nation’s fleet for decades to come. The USS William Charette (DDG 130), an Arleigh Burke-class…
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief SCOTTVILLE — Over the past few months, George C. Wilson has been painstakingly restoring three cabinets salvaged from the former Scottville school building. To date, he has completed two of the historic pieces, which will be auctioned during the Spartan Reunion concert on Tuesday, Aug. 18, to benefit the Mason County Central band program. The reunion…
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. — Monday morning began with a return visit to downtown Sault Ste. Marie, this time to tour the Museum Ship Valley Camp, one of the Great Lakes’ premier maritime museums. As a member of the board of directors of the Mason County Historical Society, which operates the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum,…
MANISTEE — Manistee Harbor Tours will offer a unique perspective of the Onekama Days celebration when the Princess hosts a special sunset and fireworks cruise on Saturday, Aug. 8. The 2 1/2-hour excursion will depart from the Princess dock in downtown Manistee and cruise north along the Lake Michigan shoreline before entering Portage Lake, where passengers will enjoy an on-the-water…
LUDINGTON — Miss Ludington Area Ashley McPike will lead a week of engineering-themed crafts for children at the Ludington branch of the Mason County District Library, 217 E. Ludington Ave., beginning Monday, Aug. 3. Ludington Library The free program will take place Monday, Aug. 3, through Friday, Aug. 7, with activities beginning at 1 p.m. each day. McPike will introduce…
The police news is a presentation of Smith & Eddy Insurance, serving west Michigan since 1902, smith-eddy.com. PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — A 72-year-old Ludington woman was injured after she drove a vehicle into a light post in the Walmart parking lot Wednesday, July 29, at 10:15 a.m., said Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. The following is other recent police activity…
LUDINGTON — Men Who Care of Mason County will hold its next quarterly meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at People’s Church, 115 W. Loomis St. Registration begins at 5:30 p.m. Founded in 2025, Men Who Care of Mason County brings together local men to support Mason County nonprofit organizations through a simple giving model. During each quarterly meeting, members nominate…
SCOTTVILLE — A community celebration honoring Johnny Duncan’s 75th birthday and his recent forearm plank world record will take place Sunday, Aug. 2 at Mason County Central High School. The event will also raise money for the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan and the Alzheimer’s Association Michigan Chapter. The “Go Johnny Go!” planking event is scheduled for 2 to 3…
Joyce Ann (Goodrich) Storey, 78, of Ludington died on Thursday, July 30, 2026. In lieu of flowers, please consider a monetary donation to Grace Funeral Home to help assist the family in covering the costs of expenses. Arrangements by Grace Funeral Home and Cremation Services, www.GraceCremations.com. Listing of 2026 deaths. Listing of 2025 deaths. Listing of 2024 deaths. Listing…
The following births have been reported: Layla Avaleen Bialik, the daughter of Brittney and Lucas Bialik of Scottville, was born on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. Unless indicated, births occurred at Corewell Health Ludington Hospital. List of 2026 births List of 2025 births __________________________________ Please Support Local News Receive daily MCP and OCP news briefings along with email news alerts for…
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief SCOTTVILLE — The return of the popular horse pull, a Saturday evening performance by the Scottville Clown Band and the raffle of a rebuilt 1929 Ford AA Doodle Bug are among the highlights of the 52nd annual Western Michigan Old Engine and Tractor Show, set for Aug. 6-8 at Scottville Riverside Park. The restored Doodle Bug,…
LUDINGTON — Lakeshore Food Club has received a $5,000 grant from the Great Lakes Energy People Fund to help equip its new Hart Food Club, which is expected to open in October. The grant will help purchase front-end equipment, including shopping carts and a grocery register scale, for the new nonprofit grocery store, which is being developed in the former…
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief This is the second part of a three-part series about my recent research trip across northern Michigan. You can read Part 1 here. SAULT STE. MARIE — My first afternoon in Sault Ste. Marie centered on the primary purpose of the trip: visiting the grave of Capt. John W. Duddleson (1846-1927) at Riverside Cemetery. Duddleson is…
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief There are some decisions that are easy to make, and there are others that weigh heavily because they involve something people genuinely care about. This is one of those decisions. After careful consideration, I have decided that Mason County Press and Oceana County Press will discontinue regular coverage of local school sports. Until this past winter,…
PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — Women Who Care of Mason County will hold its next quarterly meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at the United Methodist Church, 5810 Bryant Road. The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. During each quarterly meeting, members have the opportunity to nominate local nonprofit organizations for funding. Three nominations are randomly selected to give brief presentations about their…
PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — Construction will begin next week on a new traffic signal at the intersection of Jebavy Drive and Johnson Road, with motorists advised to expect periodic delays during the month-long project. The Mason County Road Commission announced that work is scheduled to begin Tuesday, Aug. 4. J. Ranck Electric Inc. will serve as the project’s prime contractor.…
Early in-person voting is underway in Mason County for the Tuesday, Aug. 4, primary election, giving registered voters the opportunity to cast their ballots before Election Day. Early voting began Saturday, July 25, and continues through Sunday, Aug. 2. Michigan voters approved early in-person voting as part of a constitutional amendment, allowing registered voters to cast a ballot at designated…
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