Bryant Road to close Thursday for paving project

September 15, 2026

LUDINGTON — Bryant Road will be closed to through traffic beginning Thursday, Sept. 17, as contractors begin a three-day reconstruction and paving project. Work will take place on Bryant Road between Washington and Rath avenues. Traffic will be detoured using Tinkham Avenue. Contractors are scheduled to begin milling the roadway Thursday, followed by manhole adjustments Friday. Paving is planned for…

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Chamber to host candidate meet and greet Oct. 6

September 15, 2026

LUDINGTON — Mason County voters will have an opportunity to meet candidates seeking federal, state and local offices during a Candidate Meet and Greet Tuesday, Oct. 6 at Harbor View Marina, 400 S. Rath Ave. The event, hosted by the Chamber Alliance of Mason County, will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and will feature candidates in contested races…

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Helicopter inspections of power lines to begin Sept. 22

September 15, 2026

MASON COUNTY — ITC will conduct aerial patrols of high-voltage transmission structures, lines and equipment in Michigan through mid-November. The helicopter patrols provide an overall status of vegetation management and maintenance needs of the overhead transmission system. Separate patrols will take place for vegetation and maintenance monitoring. The aerial inspections will cover nearly all of the Lower Peninsula. In Mason…

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Portion of South James Street to close Wednesday for special event

September 15, 2026

LUDINGTON — A portion of South James Street will be closed Wednesday, Sept. 16, for a special event celebrating the 80th anniversary of Brill Company. The City of Ludington announced that South James Street between Dowland Street and Maritime Drive will be closed from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. The closure will apply to motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. On-street parking…

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Gun show to benefit Free Soil alumni association

September 15, 2026

FREE SOIL — The Free Soil Community School Alumni Association will host a gun and knife show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27 at the Free Soil Community Center, 8480 N. Democrat St. Admission is $5 for adults; $4 for seniors and veterans; children are free. Proceeds benefit the alumni association. ______________________ Please Support Local News…

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Obituary: Freddie Ray Parker, 81, of Custer

September 15, 2026

Freddie Ray Parker, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away peacefully on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, at the age of 81. Surrounded by family, he grew his wings in the comfort of his home, beside his loving wife of 63 years, Shirley Parker. Fred’s journey began on Jan. 11, 1945, in Reed City where Ada and Floyd welcomed…

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Recent births, published Sept. 15, 2026

September 15, 2026

The following birth has been reported: Kobe Lee-Jeremiah Wynn, the son of Katie Nash and Boazie Wynn IV of Ludington, was born on Friday, Sept. 12, 2026. Odessa T’Kai Torres, the daughter of Makeva and Joshua Torres Sr. of Fountain, was born on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2026. Unless indicated, births occurred at Corewell Health Ludington Hospital. List of 2026 births List of…

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Library, hospital to offer water-bath canning demonstration

September 15, 2026

LUDINGTON — Mason County District Library and Corewell Health will host a water-bath canning demonstration Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 4 p.m. at Lakeshore Resource Network, 920 E. Tinkham Ave. Leona Ashley, community health educator with Corewell Health, will demonstrate how to preserve tomatoes using the water-bath canning method. Participants will learn about the science behind water-bath canning, the equipment needed…

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Employment: Student Services Navigator

September 15, 2026

West Shore Community College seeks an enthusiastic, customer service-oriented individual to fill the role of Student Services Navigator to play a key role in empowering students to reach their full potential. This position is the primary point of connection for students and community members accessing Student Services, and supports the Student Services department through collaboration on intake processes, coordination of student employees, scheduling…

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Employment: English Composition Faculty

September 15, 2026

West Shore Community College (WSCC) seeks a vibrant, innovative candidate to fill a full-time English Composition Faculty position (with potential for continuing appointment and full professor rank) to begin January 2027. Qualified applicants must have a masters degree in Rhetoric and Composition, or related field from an accredited institution, and college level experience in composition. Salary is commensurate with qualifications/experience. WSCC offers…

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ESD dedicates tree in memory of longtime board president Vince Greiner

September 14, 2026

West Shore School News is a presentation of West Shore Educational Service District in partnership with Mason County Press and Oceana County Press.  AMBER TOWNSHIP — West Shore Educational Service District officials, staff and family members gathered Tuesday, Sept. 8, to dedicate a tree in memory of longtime board member and president Vince Greiner. Greiner, a Hart farmer, business leader…

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Petunia Parade exceeds fundraising goal for new watering truck

September 14, 2026

LUDINGTON — The Ludington Petunia Parade has exceeded its fundraising goal to purchase a newer watering truck used to maintain more than 32,400 petunias planted throughout the city each year. The Petunia Parade board launched the Watering Truck Capital Campaign to replace its existing truck with a newer, more reliable vehicle capable of handling daily watering during the growing season.…

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Historic White Pine Village to host logging encampment Oct. 3

September 14, 2026

PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — Historic White Pine Village will host a Michigan Logging Encampment from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3. The event will feature lumbering and logging activities highlighting Michigan’s late 19th-century logging era. Costumed educators from the Traveling Lumberjack and Logging Museum will demonstrate the tools and techniques used by lumbermen and share information about daily…

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Several US 10 crashes over the weekend

September 14, 2026

The police news is a presentation of Smith & Eddy Insurance, serving west Michigan since 1902, smith-eddy.com. The following is Mason County Sheriff’s Office activity over the weekend: Friday, Sept. 11, 2026: 5:30 a.m., car/deer crash, no injury, Schoenherr Road north of Hansen Road, Branch Township. 1:56 p.m., two-vehicle, head-on crash, US 10 and Walhalla Road, Branch Township. A 66-year-old…

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Sheriff’s office to offer free violent incident survival training

September 14, 2026

RIVERTON TOWSHIP — The Mason County Sheriff’s Office will offer a free community safety training program Monday, Sept. 21, focusing on how to respond during violent incidents. The “Surviving Violent Incidents” program will be held from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the St. Paul Church Activity Center, 3212 W. Kinney Road. Sheriff’s deputies will discuss recognizing potential threats, situational awareness,…

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79th District Court felony arraignments, published Sept. 14, 2026

September 14, 2026

LUDINGTON — The following were arraigned recently on felony charges on Mason County’s 79th District Court: Stephen Tadeusz Lewandowski, 40, two felony counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and misdemeanor charges of stalking—domestic relationship, malicious use of telecommunications—domestic relationship, reckless driving and driving while license suspended. Offense date: Sept. 2, 2026. Agency: Ludington Police Department (LPD). Bail: $10,000/cash/surety. Preliminary…

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Ludington PD weekend report, published Sept. 14, 2026

September 14, 2026

The police news is a presentation of Smith & Eddy Insurance, serving west Michigan since 1902, smith-eddy.com. The following is Ludington Police Department activity over the weekend: Friday, Sept. 11, 2026: 6:11 p.m., a 43-year-old Ludington man was arrested on a failure to appear warrant at Waterfront Park, City of Ludington. He was lodged in the Mason County Jail. 8:50…

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Obituary: Patricia Ann Ferwerda, 69, of Ludington, formerly of Mears

September 14, 2026

Patricia Ann “Patty” Ferwerda, 69, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, at Ludington Woods. Born January 8, 1957, in Grand Haven, to Joseph and Edith Ferwerda, Patty lived a life grounded in family, hard work, helping others and, above all, an unwavering faith in the Lord. Patty spent her early childhood in Nunica, before moving with her family to…

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Ackerman family built a lasting legacy on the Great Lakes

September 11, 2026

This Great Lakes History Log is presented by Filer Credit Union, the Port of Ludington Maritime Museum and Sable Points Media.  Masters of the PM Steamers Stories of Ludington’s cross-lake rail fleet captains and other port mariners By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief The final order Capt. John C. Ackerman gave aboard Pere Marquette 18 (II) was an ordinary one. The carferry was entering Ludington harbor…

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Custer man arraigned on felonious assault charge following rifle incident

September 11, 2026

LUDINGTON — A 62-year-old Custer man accused of pointing a rifle at a farmer along a property line was arraigned Thursday, Sept. 10, in 79th District Court at the Mason County Courthouse. Scott Aldon Martinchek was charged with one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, also known as felonious assault. According to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole, Martinchek was…

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O.J. DeJonge students mark 25th anniversary of Sept. 11

September 11, 2026

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief LUDINGTON — Students from O.J. DeJonge Middle School gathered at Oriole Field Friday to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, joining members of the Ludington Fire Department, Ludington Police Department and Life EMS for a day centered on remembrance, service and community. The event was organized by O.J. DeJonge Health and…

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