Pirate News: Hart distributes 9,800 meals in a half hour.

March 25, 2020

Pirate News: Hart distributes 9,800 meals in a half hour. Pirate News is a service of Hart Public Schools in cooperation with Oceana County Press By Allison Scarbrough, Editor. HART — Hart Public Schools distributed 9,800 meals — an entire week’s worth of food per student — Wednesday, March 25, amid the state-wide school closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.…

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Sheriff: Deputies will not stop people to ask about their travels.

March 25, 2020

Sheriff: Deputies will not stop people to ask about their travels. By Allison Scarbrough, Editor. HART – Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast wants the community to know that his deputies will not stop people to ask about their travels during the Stay Home, Stay Safe order. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order (EO 2020-21), Monday,…

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Community Updates, posted March 25, 2020.

March 25, 2020

Community Updates, posted March 25, 2020. This list is being posted daily on Mason County Press and Oceana County Press. It may be updated frequently throughout the day. It includes community organizations and MCP/OCP advertisers. PLEASE DO NOT POST A CLOSING, CANCELLATION, OR UPDATE IN THE COMMENT SECTION. IT WILL BE REMOVED. If your organization has a closing, cancellation, or…

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Northwest Mich. Health Services announces service changes.

March 25, 2020

Northwest Mich. Health Services announces service changes. Northwest Michigan Health Services Tuesday announced temporary changes to its sites and services offered in response to COVID-19 recommendations. “These are unprecedented times that call for quickly responding to a changing situation,” said CEO Heidi Britton. Our goals in COVID-19 response are to minimize exposure to keep staff and patients healthy, slow the…

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WMCMH announces temporary service changes.

March 24, 2020
WMCMH announces temporary service changes.

WMCMH announces temporary service changes. LUDINGTON — West Michigan Community Mental Health has switched to practicing no face-to-face appointments with some exceptions. Exceptions include: Injections, certain home based services, crisis situations that cannot be resolved via phone or video conference, urgent walk-in crisis services. Non face-to-face services will include therapy sessions, case management assessments, psychiatric evaluations, among other services. All…

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City of Hart closes playgrounds, sports fields.

March 24, 2020

City of Hart closes playgrounds, sports fields. HART — The City of Hart announced Tuesday, March 24, that it is closing playgrounds and sports fields to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “At this time, we are closing park playgrounds as we cannot keep the equipment sanitized and we cannot assure that proper social distancing is adhered to when using playground…

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Schools offer new meal distribution plans with stay home order.

March 24, 2020

Schools offer new meal distribution plans with stay home order. By Allison Scarbrough, Editor. Following the announcement of the Stay Home, Stay Safe order to slow the spread of COVID-19 signed by Governor Gretchen Whitmer Monday, March 23, local schools are offering meal distribution plans that provide more food with less contact occurrences. HART Hart Public Schools will provide a…

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2nd COVID case reported in Newaygo County.

March 24, 2020

2nd COVID case reported in Newaygo County. District Health Department #10 reported the second confirmed positive case of COVID-19 in Newaygo County Tuesday, March 24. “The individual is not a resident of Newaygo County or of Michigan but is currently residing and recuperating in Newaygo County,” states a press release from the health department. Michigan Department of Health and Human…

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Sheriff: Violations of governor’s stay home order will be investigated.

March 24, 2020

Sheriff: Violations of governor’s stay home order will be investigated. HART — Oceana County Sheriff Craig Mast issued a press release Tuesday, March 24, explaining that complaints of Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Stay Home, Stay Safe order will be investigated and turned over to the Michigan Attorney General’s Office. “The sheriff’s office is continuing to operate as normal as we can…

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Non-violent offenders, medically at-risk inmates released.

March 24, 2020

Non-violent offenders, medically at-risk inmates released. HART — The Oceana County Jail has released several inmates — non-violent offenders and those considered medically at-risk — due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “It is the intention of the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office to follow Governor Whitmer’s executive order to assist in reducing the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” states a press…

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Community Updates, posted March 24, 2020.

March 24, 2020

Community Updates, posted March 24, 2020. This list is being posted daily on Mason County Press and Oceana County Press. It may be updated frequently throughout the day. It includes community organizations and MCP/OCP advertisers. PLEASE DO NOT POST A CLOSING, CANCELLATION, OR UPDATE IN THE COMMENT SECTION. IT WILL BE REMOVED. If your organization has a closing, cancellation, or…

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Scenic Drive closed between Fish and Shelby roads.

March 24, 2020

Scenic Drive closed between Fish and Shelby roads. BENONA TOWNSHIP — Scenic Drive between Fish and Shelby roads is closed Tuesday, March 24, for the Oceana County Road Commission to replace culverts in preparation for paving. The work crew should be done by 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to the road commission. Local residents can still access their property. This story…

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Obituary: Jeffery Eric Freese, 58, of Marshall.

March 24, 2020

Obituary: Jeffery Eric Freese, 58, of Marshall. Jeffery Eric Freese, 58, of Marshall, passed away suddenly on Friday, March 20, 2020. Jeff was born on December 13, 1961 in Hart, the son of the late Norval “Gene” and Marva (Paulsen) Freese. He graduated from Pentwater High School and attended Ferris State University. He served his country in the United States…

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Recent deaths, posted March 24, 2020

March 24, 2020

Recent deaths, posted March 24, 2020 #OceanaCountyDeaths The following recent deaths have been reported to OCP: Thomas A. Schaner, 77, of Hart died on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Lewis Homer Raskey, 85, of Hart, died on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Anna LaVerle Nixon, 100, of Hart, died on Wednesday, March 18, 2020. Robert Dale Six, 71, of Montague, died on…

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State park campgrounds closed; parks stay open for now

March 23, 2020

State park campgrounds closed; parks stay open for now LANSING — The Michigan Department of Natural Resources today announced that, in response to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-21, it will close state park campgrounds, overnight lodging facilities and shelters, effective now through at least April 13. State parks and recreation areas will remain open to provide residents with opportunities to…

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First positive COVID-19 case reported in Manistee County.


March 23, 2020

First positive COVID-19 case reported in Manistee County.
 District Health Department #10 reported the first confirmed positive case of COVID-19 in a Manistee County resident Monday March 23, “DHD#10 is working quickly to investigate this case and to determine if there were any exposures to this individual,” states a press release. “We ask that individuals please follow Governor Whitmer’s orders…

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78th District Court arraignments, March 23, 2020.

March 23, 2020

78th District Court arraignments, March 23, 2020. #OceanaCountyCrime By Allison Scarbrough, Editor. HART — The following were arraigned recently in 78th District Court: Felonies – Angela Ann Hovey, 40, of 1021 E. Adams Rd., Hart, was arrested by the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) for a felony of a illegal sale/use of a financial transaction device. Bail: $5,000/personal. Preliminary exam:…

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No COVID-19 cases in Oceana County, 3 in DHD #10 area.

March 23, 2020

No COVID-19 cases in Oceana County, 3 in DHD #10 area. In a 10-county area, there are presently three positive COVID-19 cases in the District Health Department #10 jurisdiction. No cases have been reported in Oceana County. As of Monday, March 23, at 2:30 p.m., there are positive cases in Newaygo, Wexford and Kalkaska counties. A positive case was also…

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Missing woman found.

March 23, 2020

Missing woman found. GRANT TOWNSHIP — A 73-year-old woman from the Comstock Park area who had been missing for about 20 hours was found “conscious and alert” by law enforcement, said Michigan State Police Sgt. Dan Thomas of the Hart post. The Michigan State Police Aviation Unit found her Dodge Grand Caravan in the area of Webster Road and 92nd…

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Governor issues stay at home order, for three weeks.

March 23, 2020

Governor issues stay at home order, for three weeks. LANSING — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a “Stay Home, Stay Safe” Executive Order (EO 2020-21), directing all Michigan businesses and operations to temporarily suspend in-person operations that are not necessary to sustain or protect life. The order also directs Michiganders to stay in their homes unless they’re a part of that…

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Hospital opens COVID-19 triage tent.

March 23, 2020

Hospital opens COVID-19 triage tent. LUDINGTON — Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital is taking additional steps to care for the community and to keep patients and team members safe by opening a COVID-19 triage tent as an extension of its emergency department during peak patient times. The tent will be operational from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week…

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