Joan “Joanie” Edith (Ziemkowski) Schwass, passed away on Friday, July 3, 2026. She was 92. Joanie was born on September 15, 1933, to Harry and Claudia (Laird) Ziemkowski. She graduated from Ludington High School in 1951. After graduating Joanie was accepted into the nurse training program at Hackley Hospital in Muskegon where she began a lifelong career in the medical…
A memorial service for Lyle Hanson will be held on Friday, July 10, 2026, at noon at Grace Funeral Home, with visitation beginning at 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Lyle Ellis Hanson, 91, of Fountain, formerly Saline, died on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be directed to Custer VFW Gold Bar Post, 2022…
The following births have been reported: Immanuel Gene Dancz, the son of Christine and Matthew Dancz of Manistee, was born on Thursday, July 2, 2026. Camden Roy Russell, the son of Saylor Weber and Jarek Russell of Fountain, was born on Saturday, July 4, 2026. Unless indicated, births occurred at Corewell Health Ludington Hospital. List of 2026 births List of 2025…
By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — More than 1,100 people gathered Friday at Historic White Pine Village to celebrate the Mason County Historical Society museum’s 50th anniversary, honoring five decades of preserving the county’s history while looking ahead to its future. Admission for the event was sponsored by West Shore Bank, allowing the historical society to open the…
The police news is a presentation of Smith & Eddy Insurance, serving west Michigan since 1902, smith-eddy.com. The following is activity of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office Thursday, July 2, 2026: 6:11 a.m., warrant arrest, Mason County Sheriff’s Office, City of Ludington, a 39-year-old Ludington man turned himself in on an outstanding failure-to-appear traffic warrant. 12:29 p.m., two-vehicle hit-and-run crash,…
Rose (Motyka) Forman, 103, of Ludington, passed away on Thursday, July 2, 2026. Rose was born on Feb. 12, 1923, in Amber Township, Mason County and was the proud daughter of Polish immigrants Joseph and Agnes (Zasadnia) Motyka. She celebrated the extraordinary milestone of becoming a centenarian in 2023, marking a century richly lived and deeply cherished. Rose attended Eagle…
This MCP Boat Blog is presented by the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum, www.masoncountymihistory.org. Photos by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — The Pere Marquette 41 barge passes the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum Thursday afternoon as the barge and its tug, the Undaunted, departed Ludington en route to Manistee. The barge is the former legendary City of Midland 41 carferry. Built…
LUDINGTON — Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians should expect traffic disruptions Saturday, July 4, as portions of downtown Ludington close for the JCI Ludington Freedom Festival parade and evening fireworks celebration. The City of Ludington announced that US-10/Ludington Avenue between Madison Street and Lakeshore Drive, along with Lakeshore Drive to Tinkham Avenue, will be closed to through traffic beginning at 1…
The police news is a presentation of Smith & Eddy Insurance, serving west Michigan since 1902, smith-eddy.com. The following is activity of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday, July 1, 2026: 6:41 a.m., car/deer crash, no injury, Masten and Anthony roads, Logan Township. 12:10 p.m., two-vehicle crash, no injury, US 10 east of Brye Road, Amber Township. 12:16 p.m., two-vehicle…
Ford Adelbert Taylor, 74, of Ludington, passed away on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. Ford was born on March 14, 1952 in Ludington, the son of Adelbert and Clare (Huff) Taylor and graduated from Mason County Eastern High School with the class of 1970. In 1986, he married Karolyn Wollschlager in Ludington and they would have celebrated 40 years together this month. Ford…
Betty M. Gambicki, 98, of Ludington, passed away on Sunday, June 21, 2026. Betty was born on July 2, 1927, in Petoskey, to the late Bernard and Evelyn Blair. Her family moved to Saginaw where she graduated from Saginaw High. In 1948, she married Chester Cymbal and they started a family. In the early 1960s, they moved to Ludington and…
A celebration of life for Henry Sutton will be held on Sunday, August 9, 2026 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Suttons Landing in Pere Marquette Townshiop. Henry Lyle Sutton Jr., 73, of Ludington passed away on Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Read Henry’s obituary here. Arrangements were entrusted to Grace Funeral Home and Cremation Services, www.GraceCremations.com.
A celebration of life for Roger Clinton Bailey will be held on Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Park Place, 310 N. Rush St., in Pentwater. Roger Clinton Bailey, 90, of Pentwater, passed away on Friday, April 17, 2026. Read Roger’s obituary here. Arrangements were entrusted to Grace Funeral Home and Cremation Services, www.GraceCremations.com.
This Great Lakes History Log is presented by Filer Credit Union and the Mason County Historical Society By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — A botanical collection created by a Scottville High School student in 1901 has been donated to the Mason County Historical Society, preserving a detailed record of Mason County’s native and cultivated plants from more than 125 years…
Photos and story by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — Several hundred people gathered Tuesday evening at Waterfront Park for the Scottville Clown Band’s annual Patriotic Concert, an Independence Day tradition that featured patriotic music, recognition of military veterans and a performance by the Ludington High School Jazz Band. The Ludington High School Jazz Band, directed by Keith Kuczynski, opened the…
LUDINGTON — A 46-year-old Ludington man was arrested by Ludington police officers for arson of personal property Tuesday, June 30, shortly before 5 p.m. following an illegal burning complaint in the 800 block of East Danaher Street, according to Ludington Police Chief Christopher Jones. Police officers made contact with the man earlier that day around 2 p.m. in the same…
LUDINGTON — Motorists traveling to and from the Ludington Area Jaycees Freedom Festival fireworks celebration on Saturday, July 4, should expect heavy traffic and several temporary traffic restrictions as law enforcement agencies implement a coordinated traffic management plan. The Mason County Sheriff’s Office, working with the Ludington Police Department, Michigan State Police, Pere Marquette Township Fire Department and Ludington Fire…
MANISTEE — Manistee Harbor Tours will celebrate Independence Day with a special 2 1/2-hour Fourth of July sunset cruise aboard the Princess of Manistee, offering passengers an opportunity to enjoy the holiday from the waters of Lake Michigan. Boarding begins at 8:15 p.m. Saturday, July 4, with departure scheduled for 9 p.m. from the Princess dock on the Manistee River…
WALHALLA — The Mason County Land Bank Authority will host an open house Saturday, July 11, at two newly constructed homes in Walhalla, providing prospective homebuyers, local officials and community members an opportunity to tour the properties and learn more about the authority’s role in expanding affordable housing opportunities in Mason County. The open house will be held from 11…
West Shore School News is a presentation of West Shore Educational Service District in partnership with Mason County Press and Oceana County Press. WEARE TOWNSHIP, Oceana County — Students entering fifth through eighth grades this fall will have the opportunity to explore careers in agriculture during the free AgriScience Everywhere summer camp, scheduled for July 6-9 at the West Michigan…
The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids has issued a severe thunderstorm warning for Mason County until 1 p.m. today as a strong storm moves across the area. At 11:53 a.m., radar indicated a severe thunderstorm near Ludington moving east at 35 mph. The storm is capable of producing wind gusts up to 60 mph and penny-sized hail. Communities in…
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