News

Limited access dune community forum set for June 12

June 3, 2025

BENONA TOWNSHIP — Mason-Oceana 911 is hosting a Limited Access Dune Community forum Thursday, June 12, at 10 a.m. at the Little Point Sable Stone Church, 668 S. Stone Church Rd., Shelby. Limited access dune communities pose a serious challenge to emergency responders who need to gain access to homes for emergencies, such as house fires. “We just had yet…

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Montague woman ordered to pay over $160,000 in embezzlement case

June 3, 2025

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor HART — A 51-year-old Montague woman was sentenced to five months in jail; two years probation; and ordered to pay $161,170.67 in restitution for a felony embezzlement conviction in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court Monday, June 2. Amy Elizabeth Babcock pleaded “no contest” to the charge, April 14. “Amy Babcock was hired by and stole…

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Woman pleads ‘no contest’ to assault with intent to do great bodily harm

June 3, 2025

Markie Castillo used a blunt instrument, such as a hammer or bat, to assault a man with whom she had an ‘on-and-off’ relationship. By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor HART — A 34-year-old Walkerville woman pleaded “no contest” to assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court Monday, June 2, for the…

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House severely damaged by dune grass fire

June 2, 2025

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief SUMMIT TOWNSHIP — Multiple emergency agencies responded to what began as a dune grass fire that turned into a house fire Monday afternoon just north of the Mason-Oceana county line. Riverton Fire Department was initially called to Montgomery Drive south of the Bass Lake outlet near Lake Michigan at 12:50 p.m. for a reported dune grass…

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US 31 lane closures will now be halted during EF

June 2, 2025

GRANT TOWNSHIP — Lane closures for road work on northbound and southbound US 31 between Winston Road and M 20 scheduled to begin Wednesday, June 4, will be halted during the Electric Forest Festival, the Michigan Department of Transportation announced Monday, June 2. “We have good news for the forest-dwelling music lovers,” said John Richard of MDOT’s communications team. “Lane…

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