Local students participate in regional spelling bee

February 27, 2026

West Shore School News is a presentation of West Shore Educational Service District in partnership with Mason County Press and Oceana County Press. LUDINGTON — Mason County Central Middle School eighth grade student Henry O’Neal won the West Shore Educational Service District Area Regional Spelling Bee on Tuesday, Feb. 24. The competition, held at Ludington Area School District’s L.F. Peterson…

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Varsity Girls Basketball: Covenant Christian defeats Shelby

February 27, 2026

MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Squires Chiropractic, Smith & Eddy Insurance, and VanderHaag Car Sales & Rentals. GRAND RAPIDS — The Shelby Tigers fell to Covenant Christian Thursday 48-32. Shelby scorers: Jayna Burmeister, 17 Michelle Peterson, 9 Jordan Wolting, 3 Kylie Brown, 2 Ava Lamberg, 1 Score by the…

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Varsity Boys Basketball: Pirates defeat Reed City in district semifinals

February 26, 2026

MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Squires Chiropractic, Smith & Eddy Insurance, and VanderHaag Car Sales & Rentals. LUDINGTON — The Hart Pirates were able to hold off a very game Reed City who played physical and tough on their way to a hard fought 59-37 victory Wednesday in the Michigan…

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Varsity Boys Basketball: Shelby falls to North Muskegon in districts

February 25, 2026

MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Squires Chiropractic, Smith & Eddy Insurance, and VanderHaag Car Sales & Rentals. Photos by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief SCOTTVILLE — Shelby fell to North Muskegon Wednesday in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 District 73 tournament semifinals held at Mason County Central High…

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Varsity Boys Basketball: Pentwater knocks MCE out of districts

February 25, 2026

MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Squires Chiropractic, Smith & Eddy Insurance, and VanderHaag Car Sales & Rentals. BALDWIN — Pentwater defeated Mason County Eastern Wednesday in the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 4 District 109 district semifinals. The Falcons were victorious over the Cardinals 70-45. “We got off…

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Candle knocked over by pet likely cause of Shelby house fire

February 25, 2026

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor SHELBY — Preliminary investigation reveals that a candle that was knocked over by a pet is likely the cause of a house fire at 96 Ellis St. Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 24. When the candle fell over, it caught a blanket on fire, said Lt./Public Information Officer Benjamin White-Elder of the Shelby-Benona Fire Department. “One of…

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Career fair draws hundreds of students

February 25, 2026

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor SHELBY — Area high school students got a close-up look at career and education options available after graduation during the Oceana College Access Network’s College and Career Fair, Feb. 24, in the Shelby High School gym. Approximately 350 students from Shelby, Hart, Walkerville and Montague attended this year’s career fair, said Oceana College Access Network…

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Man, 81, injured after SUV hits tree head-on 

February 25, 2026

HART TOWNSHIP — An 81-year-old Norton Shores man was transported by Life EMS to Trinity Health Shelby Hospital after the 2019 Buick Encore compact SUV he was driving hit a tree on North Oceana Drive near VanBuren Road Tuesday, Feb. 24, around 3:15 p.m., according to an Oceana County Sheriff’s Office accident report. “The driver advised that he was southbound…

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Varsity Girls Basketball: Shelby defeats Newaygo

February 25, 2026

MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Squires Chiropractic, Smith & Eddy Insurance, and VanderHaag Car Sales & Rentals. SHELBY — The Shelby Tigers defeated Newaygo Tuesday 60-25, increasing the Tigers’ overall record to 19-2. The Tigers are 12-0 in the West Michigan Conference Rivers Division. Shelby scorers: Jayna Burmeister, 20…

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Fire destroys Shelby home

February 24, 2026

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor SHELBY — Fire destroyed a home on Ellis Street near White Street Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 24. No one was injured, but a pet dog died in the blaze. The occupants of the home safely evacuated when the fire call was dispatched shortly before 3 p.m., said Oceana County Emergency Manager Troy Maloney.  “It was fully…

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Man sentenced to prison for assaulting neighbor with baseball bat 

February 24, 2026

By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor HART — A 25-year-old Shelby man was sentenced to a minimum of one year and two months to a maximum of four years in prison for a conviction of assault with a dangerous weapon in Oceana County’s 51st Circuit Court Monday, Feb. 23. Moises Alejandro Garza used a wooden baseball bat to assault his 41-year-old…

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Right to Life High School Oratory Contest seeking participants

February 24, 2026

HAMLIN TOWNSHIP — The Right to Life Affiliates of Manistee, Mason and Oceana counties will host their annual High School Oratory Contest on Saturday, March 21 at 10 a.m. at the Lighthouse Baptist Church, 1950 N Jebavy Drive. The contest invites students to research, write and deliver a five to seven minute speech speaking truth with compassion on one of…

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Varsity Boys Basketball: Shelby defeats Hesperia in first round of districts

February 23, 2026

MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Squires Chiropractic, Smith & Eddy Insurance, and VanderHaag Car Sales & Rentals. SCOTTVILLE — Shelby defeated Hesperia Monday in the first round of Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 District 73 tournament. The Tigers won 79-28, eliminating the Panthers. “It was exciting to…

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Not in our school! Teaching lessons on anti-bullying

February 23, 2026

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief SHELBY — Last week Shelby Elementary School students learned a valuable lesson in how to deal with bullying. Speaker Kevin Kimes of Lock Out USA presented his “Not In Our School” program to the students grades kindergarten through five. Kimes served as an elementary and middle school principal at Mason County Central School District for a…

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Varsity Girls Basketball: Coopersville defeats Hart

February 23, 2026

MCP/OCP Sports Coverage is presented by: Baker Ford Ludington, Fresh Coast Foam, Mission Graphics, Quick-Way, Inc., Squires Chiropractic, Smith & Eddy Insurance, and VanderHaag Car Sales & Rentals. COOPERSVILLE — The Coopersville Broncos defeated Hart Monday, 31-23, in a non-conference game. Hart scorers: Zoily Sarabia, 10 Rilynn Porter, 1 Aurora Virtanen, 1 Leah Walker, 2 Natlie Rosema, 3 Reese Smith,…

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Couple arrested following high-speed chase

February 23, 2026

UPDATE: This article was updated Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026 to reflect more accurate criminal charges after interviewing Oceana County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Bizon. HART TOWNSHIP —  A 44-year-old Muskegon man was arrested on multiple charges following a high-speed chase that began on US 31 near Polk Road Saturday, Feb. 21, shortly after 5:15 p.m., according to Oceana County Sheriff Craig…

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Fleeing suspect arrested after turning onto dead end road

February 23, 2026

BENONA TOWNSHIP — A 20-year-old Donna, Texas man was arrested by Oceana County sheriff’s deputies on a felony charge of fleeing and eluding police Tuesday, Feb. 17, around 11:30 p.m., according to Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast. After the man was clocked going 120 mph on northbound US 31 near M 20, a chase ensued. The case lasted several miles,…

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OWI arrests top police activity over the weekend

February 23, 2026

The police news is a presentation of Smith & Eddy Insurance, serving west Michigan since 1902, smith-eddy.com. The following is recent police activity in Oceana County: Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026: 10:26 a.m., (Michigan State Police), a 44-year-old Free Soil man was arrested for operating without insurance, unlawful license plate and operating without a license, US 31 near Baseline Road, Shelby…

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We need your help

February 23, 2026

Folks, we really need your help. Before I continue, I want to thank those who have accepted our request and are now subscribing to the MCP/OCP Daily Briefing. We are asking for you to make a small monthly investment in order for us to continue to provide you with local news and sports coverage. Mason County Press and Oceana County…

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Hart PD news, published Feb. 23, 2026

February 23, 2026

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 Hart Police Department: Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026: 9 a.m., vehicle crash, no injury, 300 block of Johnson Street, City of Hart. 4:47 p.m., parking complaint, 700 block of East Main Street, City of Hart. 5:10 p.m.,…

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Obituary: Angela Marie Alltop, 49, of Hart

February 23, 2026

Angela Marie Alltop, 49, of Hart, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, February 20, 2026, at her home. She was born March 22, 1976, in Shelby, the daughter of James and Joyce (Monroe) Alltop. Angie had a presence that could fill any space and time. She was a loving daughter, mom, grandma, aunt, sister, cousin, and friend. She had the deepest…

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