Witness says Sean did not love Baby Kate, wanted Ariel to disappear

April 4, 2014
Witness says Sean did not love Baby Kate, wanted Ariel to disappear

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief.  LUDINGTON — Dan Ruba testified today that Sean Phillips told him that he did not love Baby Kate. At the time of Katherine “Baby Kate” Phillips’ June 29, 2011 disappearance, Ruba was in a romantic relationship with April Lange, mother of Baby Kate’s mother, Ariel Courtland. “He really didn’t think Kate was his kid because he…

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Officers were first to discover Baby Kate’s clothes

April 4, 2014
Officers were first to discover Baby Kate’s clothes

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief.  LUDINGTON — Ludington Police Officer Tony Kuster was the first witness to testify this morning in the 79th District Court preliminary examination of the State of Michigan vs. Sean Michael Phillips. Phillips is charged with the June 29, 2011 murder of his 4-month-old daughter Katherine Shelbie Elizabeth Phillips, also known as “Baby Kate”. At the time…

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79th District Court arraignments, as of April 2, 2014

April 4, 2014
79th District Court arraignments, as of April 2, 2014

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor.  LUDINGTON — The following were arraigned this past week in front of the Mason County Magistrate in 79th District Court. Felonies –          James Ellis Page, 57, of 601 N. Rowe St., Ludington, was arrested March 31 by the Mason County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) for felonies of armed robbery, first-degree retail fraud and third-offense habitual offender. A…

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79th District Court sentencings as of April 2

April 4, 2014
79th District Court sentencings as of April 2

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor. LUDINGTON – The following were sentenced this past week in 79th District Court: –          Kendall Jay Walworth, 23, of 1719 N. Lincoln Rd., Ludington, was found guilty April 1 of operating while impaired by liquor. He was sentenced to one day in jail with credit for one day served; Alcohol Highway Safety Education (AHSE); $1,145 in fines and…

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Use your hand tools more safely

April 4, 2014
Use your hand tools more safely

Good Neighbor Tips. A blog by Erin Doan State Farm Insurance Agency. You may routinely reach for a hand tool when you have a job to do, but don’t short-change safety when you use it. Hand tools cause bruises, punctures, broken bones and far more serious injuries each year. Before you start your next DIY project, review these safety tips:…

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Nominations being accepted for Gov. John B. Swainson Award

April 4, 2014

LANSING — The Michigan Historical Commission today announced it is accepting nominations for the Governor John B. Swainson Award. The prestigious Swainson Award is given annually by the Michigan Historical Commission to state, county or municipal employees who have gone above and beyond their official job duties to help preserve Michigan’s history. To recognize these contributions, in 1996 the Michigan…

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Hospital phones may be down Saturday

April 4, 2014

LUDINGTON — Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital will have electrical contractors on site Saturday morning, April 5, making some necessary routine repairs that could result in a brief shutdown of telephone service. According to Greg Soper, director of plant operations at the hospital, there is a very remote chance that telephone service could be down for less than ten minutes sometime…

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Sean Phillips’ mother among several witnesses

April 3, 2014
Sean Phillips’ mother among several witnesses

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief.  LUDINGTON — Several witnesses were called to the stand today during the preliminary examination of Sean Michael Phillips in 79th District Court. Phillips is charged with the June 29, 2011 murder of his 4-month-old daughter Katherine Phillips. The purpose of the examination is to determine if the prosecutor has enough proof to proceed in circuit court.…

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Scottville summer recreation ball registration

April 3, 2014

SCOTTVILLE — Scottville recreation T-ball, baseball and softball sign up is near for pre-k through eighth graders. This is for students of Mason County Central, Mason County Eastern, Ludington Area Catholic, Covenant Christian, Victory Early Childhood Center, Custer Head Start, and Fountain Head Start. T-ball sign up night is Wednesday, April 9 in MCC High School cafeteria from 5 to 7…

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Freezing rain and sleet still possible today

April 3, 2014
Freezing rain and sleet still possible today

The outdoor report for Mason County is sponsored by Superior Electric of Ludington: 231-845-0126; www.supelectric.com. Thursday, April 3, 2014. The area is under a winter weather advisory until 8 a.m. Friday. An area of freezing rain and sleet will move in this afternoon. A lull in the precipitation is expected late in the afternoon but may resume tonight. The precipitation should…

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Farm Bureau field day/rally scheduled

April 3, 2014
Farm Bureau field day/rally scheduled

RIVERTON TWP. — The Mason County Farm Bureau Board of Directors will host a membership Field Day/Rally for all regular Farm Bureau members on Saturday, April 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the New Horizon Farm, 1981 W. Marrison Road. The featured agenda item will be information about the 2014 Farm Bill and what it will mean at the…

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Mother recalls last day Baby Kate was seen; talks about alleged confession letter from father

April 3, 2014
Mother recalls last day Baby Kate was seen; talks about alleged confession letter from father

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief. LUDINGTON — Ariel Courtland, the mother of Katherine Phillips was the prosecution’s first witness this morning in the 79th District Court preliminary examination of murder suspect Sean Michael Phillips. In October 2013, Sean Phillips, 24, was charged with June 2011 murder of his 4-month-old daughter also known as Baby Kate. Phillips is currently serving the second…

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Law enforcement searches for reported strangler, but no crime, suspect found

April 3, 2014

BRANCH TWP. — Deputies from Mason County Sheriff’s Office along with Michigan State Police troopers searched the Wallhalla and Fountain areas for several hours Wednesday for a male parole absconder in his 40s. Around 8:30 p.m. law enforcement received a call that a man had been saying that he had strangled a woman to death in Manistee County. The man…

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Tea party meeting will feature candidate who is challenging Lt. Gov.

April 3, 2014

AMBER TWP. — The Ludington Area Tea Party will hold its regular monthly general meeting on Thursday, April 10, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. at the Gospel Light Baptist Church located at 105 N. Dennis Rd. Speakers will include: Wes Nakagiri who is challenging Lt. Governor Brian Calley at the Republican State Convention, scheduled for August  22 and 23 in Novi. This is…

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Man falls through ice on Pentwater Lake

April 3, 2014

By Allison Scarbrough. Contributing Editor.  PENTWATER – A Whitehall man escaped serious injury after falling through the ice on Pentwater Lake this morning. The Oceana County Sheriff’s Office, the Pentwater Fire Department and Oceana Emergency Medical Services were dispatched just before 8 a.m. along the east end of Pentwater Lake. Lester Hammond of Whitehall fell through the ice and was in the water…

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Optimists to hold garage sale

April 3, 2014
Optimists to hold garage sale

SCOTTVILLE — The Scottville Optimist Club is hosting a 20-family garage sale Saturday, April 12 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Optimist Center behind West Shore Bank. Lunch will be available. Pictured here with a sampling of some of the items up for sale are Optimist members: (left to right) Michelle Anderson, Dennis Dodson, Scott Shoup, Diane Watts,…

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For the love of fishing

April 3, 2014
For the love of fishing

For the Love of Fishing. A blog by Sean McDonald is brought to you by Frontier Communications. High speed Internet starting at $19.99 a month. www.frontier.com; 1-888-770-6869.  Today, we introduce a new blog, For the Love of Fishing by Sean McDonald. Sean has lived in Lake and Mason counties for 20 years. After attending Ferris State University he found the area…

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Photo contest winners

April 3, 2014

LUDINGTON – The Ludington Area Center for the Arts has announced the winners of this year’s Todd and Brad Reed Online Photo Contest. The 2014 contest had two divisions with five categories in each.  Winners in the amateur division were:  Rodney Erickson in the animals category, Scott Sitler in the abstract/free Subject category, Marilyn Stolberg in the landscape and plant…

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Obit: Jacie McGee, 60

April 3, 2014

Jacie McGee, 60, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, March 30, 2014. She was born on January 1, 1954 in Roseville, Mi as the first baby of the New Year to William and Esther Harder. Jacie grew up in Utica Mi. where she graduated from Utica High School in 1972. After high school, she proudly served in the US Navy. Jacie married Jim McGee on April 28, 1979 in Lake Orion, Mi. Jacie and Jim had two children James and…

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Obit: Luella Mae Sanderso, 89, Ludington

April 2, 2014
Obit: Luella Mae Sanderso, 89, Ludington

Luella Mae Sanderson age 89 of Ludington, MI, passed away March 21, 2014 at home in Grand Rapids, MI. She was born September 12, 1924 in Clare, MI the daughter of the late Ben and Lulu Henry. She married Robert (Bob) John Sanderson on November 25, 1957 in Grand Rapids, MI. Luella was a home maker, and enjoyed gardening, fishing…

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Judge dismisses Rotta’s case against mayor, city councilors

April 2, 2014
Judge dismisses Rotta’s case against mayor, city councilors

By Rob Alway. Editor-in-Chief.  LUDINGTON — A case against former Mayor John Henderson and six city councilors was dismissed today by 79th District Court Judge Pete Wadel. The case involved allegations by resident Tom Rotta that the defendants violated the Michigan Open Meetings Act during its May 20, 2013 regular meeting. The defendants had filed a summary of disposition, which…

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Eats & Drinks

Eats & Drinks

Eats & Drinks

Eats & Drinks