Obituary: Ricky Rolston, 71, of Fountain

December 15, 2023

Obituary: Ricky Rolston, 71, of Fountain Rick Rolston, 71, of Fountain, formerly of Big Rapids, passed away Wednesday, December 13, 2023. Rick was born July 17, 1952, the son of Vern and Lois Carnes Rolston. Rick graduated from Big Rapids High School in 1970. On April 28, 1973, he married the love of his life, Sharon Kurtz Rolston. Retiring in…

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Jaycees award $15,000 in grants; raise funds for July 4 fireworks

December 14, 2023

Jaycees award $15,000 in grants; raise funds for July 4 fireworks LUDINGTON — The Ludington Area Jaycees recently awarded $15,000 grants to five area nonprofit organizations. During the past season, the Ludington Area Jaycees’ Mini Golf Course, located at Stearns Park, has donated about $35,000 back into the community. The total donated to the community since beginning the mini golf course…

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Obituary: Phyllis Joyce Ruzgis, 98, Scottville

December 14, 2023

Obituary: Phyllis Joyce Ruzgis, 98, Scottville Phyllis Joyce Ruzgis, 98, of Scottville, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 11, 2023. She was born on June 2, 1925, in Scottville, to the late Earnest William Courtland and Marion Arletta Golumbo. Phyllis married Paul William Ruzgis shortly after graduating from Custer High School in 1943. They celebrated 78 years of marital bliss…

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VIDEO: Pere Marquette Memorial at Sunset

December 13, 2023

VIDEO: Pere Marquette Memorial at Sunset Around the County is a presentation of Preferred Credit Union, www.preferredcu.org, located locally at 266 N. Jebavy Dr., Ludington. Film by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief Wednesday evening’s sunset was the perfect backdrop for the Pere Marquette Cross Memorial that overlooks Pere Marquette Lake and Lake Michigan. The cross is owned by the Pere Marquette Memorial…

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Conservation District board petitions available

December 13, 2023

Conservation District board petitions available SCOTTVILLE — The Mason-Lake Conservation District is accepting petitions for nominees for its board of directors. The board of directors is comprised of five individuals who are each elected by local residents for a four-year term. Directors hold monthly board and committee meetings, ensure that the Conservation District’s strategic plan is implemented and finances are…

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Speaker to discuss ‘Reaganomics’ at library Thursday

December 13, 2023

Speaker to discuss ‘Reaganomics’ at library Thursday LUDINGTON — Historian and author Gary Gerstle will discuss the topic “Free Markets: From Ronald Reagan to Barak Obama” on Thursday, Dec. 14 at the Ludington branch of the Mason County District Library, 217 E. Ludington Ave. The presentation is part of the public series Cairns & Beacons: Finding Our Way in a…

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New plat books available

December 13, 2023

New plat books available The new Mason County Plat Book is now available. The spiral-bound book features the standard landownership map pages showing townships and ranges within the county, including property boundaries for all rural parcels. Along with landownership maps are the new enhanced LiDAR aerial view maps that show a 3D-like topographical look at the local land. The book…

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Man sentenced for third-offense domestic violence

December 13, 2023

Man sentenced for third-offense domestic violence By Allison Scarbrough, Editor LUDINGTON — A 68-year-old man was sentenced to two years probation for a felony conviction of third-offense domestic violence in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Dec. 12. James Clark Williams pleaded guilty Oct. 24 to one count of third-offense domestic violence. A second count was dismissed. Mason County Prosecutor…

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Deputies busy with crashes

December 13, 2023

Deputies busy with crashes The police news is a presentation of Smith & Eddy Insurance, serving west Michigan since 1902, smith-eddy.com. The following is recent activity of the Mason County Sheriff’s Office: Monday, Dec. 11, 2023: 5:39 p.m., car/deer crash, no injury, Jebavy Drive north of Fisher Road, Hamlin Township. Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023: 7:30 a.m., car/deer crash, no injury,…

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Recent births, posted Dec. 13, 2023

December 13, 2023

Recent births, posted Dec. 13, 2023 Please consider helping to fund local news. Mason County Press and Oceana County Press are available for free thanks to the generous support of our advertisers and individuals. Three ways to help us: Venmo: @MasonCountyPress; Paypal: MasonCountyPress@gmail.com; Mail a check to PO BOX 21, Scottville, MI 49454. The following births have been reported: Emma…

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Obituary: Sharon Crilley, 82, of Ludington

December 13, 2023

Obituary: Sharon Crilley, 82, of Ludington Sharon “Sherry” May Crilley, 82, of Ludington, formerly of Garden City, passed away on Friday, December 8, 2023. Sherry was born on January 26, 1941, the daughter of Warren Glen and Ursula Gertrude (Mayrand) Wiley. Sharon graduated on June 20, 1958, from Redford High School in Detroit. On November 25, 1970, she married the…

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Obituary: Sandra James, 77, of Ludington

December 13, 2023

Obituary: Sandra James, 77, of Ludington Sandra “Sue or Sandy” D. James Sandra D. James, 77, passed away on Monday, December 11, 2023, at Corewell Health Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids, surrounded by her children. Sandra was born in Detroit on September 10, 1946, the daughter of John and Louise Ivancik. She attended Ludington High School. On June 3, 1967,…

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Recent death: Rickey Edward Rolston, 71, of Fountain

December 13, 2023

Rickey Edward Rolston, 71, of Fountain, died on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. A memorial gathering will be held on Monday, December 18, 2023 from 10 a.m. to noon at Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington. Arrangements by Oak Grove Funeral Home of Ludington, www.OakGroveLudington.com. Listing of 2023 deaths. Listing of 2022 deaths. Listing of 2021 deaths. Listing of 2020 deaths.…

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Mike Shwartz: Holocaust survivor became local ‘Cheeseman’.

December 12, 2023

Mike Shwartz: Holocaust survivor became local ‘Cheeseman’. This history article is sponsored by the Mason County Historical Society. This article was originally posted in December 2020. MCP is posting it again in observance of Hanukkah 2023.  By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief. Editor’s Note: In a previous story, I told the story of the Benow and Schoenberger families and their influences as…

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Hart man sentenced to probation in child trafficking case

December 12, 2023

Hart man sentenced to probation in child trafficking case Convictions are under review by appeals court  By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor LUDINGTON — One of three men arrested in a child trafficking sting operation last August was sentenced to five years probation in 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Dec. 12. Steven Wayne Volpp, 58, of Hart, pleaded guilty to a felony…

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Convicted sex offender sentenced in CSC case

December 12, 2023

Convicted sex offender sentenced in CSC case By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor LUDINGTON — A 32-year-old man serving a 25-40 year prison term for first-degree criminal sexual conduct was sentenced to 16 months to two years in prison in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Tuesday,  Dec. 12. Christopher Joseph Schneider pleaded guilty to a high-court misdemeanor of fourth-degree CSC, Oct.…

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Prisoner sentenced to concurrent prison term for break-in

December 12, 2023

Prisoner sentenced to concurrent prison term for break-in LUDINGTON — A 26-year-old man who is currently imprisoned for a conviction of breaking and entering with intent was sentenced to a concurrent prison term of 17 months to 10 years in Mason County’s 51st Circuit Court Tuesday, Dec. 12. Jordan Blakely Hicks pleaded guilty, Oct. 31, to two counts of breaking…

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Police investigate trailer theft

December 12, 2023

Police investigate trailer theft The police news is a presentation of Smith & Eddy Insurance, serving west Michigan since 1902, smith-eddy.com. AMBER TOWNSHIP — The Mason County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the theft of a trailer reported Monday, Dec. 11, shortly after 11 a.m. in the 3800 block of West US 10, according to Mason County Sheriff Kim Cole. “The…

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