911 lines down.

March 24, 2016

WEARE TOWNSHIP — The Mason County Sheriff’s Office is reporting that the phone lines for Mason-Oceana 911 are currently inoperable, likely due to the weather, this includes 911’s business lines and also lines to the sheriff’s office. In the event of an emergency, call 911 and your call will be routed to Muskegon County’s 911 center. They will then forward…

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Tiger Science Olympiad team finishes 2nd, qualifies for state.

March 24, 2016
Tiger Science Olympiad team finishes 2nd, qualifies for state.

ALMA — The Shelby High School Science Olympiad Team had such a strong performance in regional competition last weekend at Alma College, the Tigers took second place and qualified for the state tournament. Although, conflicts with prom and other activities resulted in the team declining the invitation to the state competition at Michigan State University April 30, said Tiger Science…

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Closings and cancellations, March 24, 2016.

March 23, 2016

Closings and cancellations are sponsored by Abrahamson’s Towing of Ludington: 231-843-2990. Closed for Thursday, March 24, 2016: West Shore Community College Walkerville Public Schools Hart Public Schools Shelby Public Schools Pentwater Public Schools Oceana County Council on Aging closed/buses will not be running.

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Police investigate tree stand theft.

March 23, 2016
Police investigate tree stand theft.

The following is local law enforcement activity Tuesday, March 22, 2016: – 9:46 a.m., (Shelby Police Department), disturbance, S. Michigan Ave., Village of Shelby. – 10:10 a.m., (Michigan State Police, Hart post), larceny of a tree stand, 180th Ave., Section 21, Greenwood Township. – 10:12 a.m., (SPD), fraud, S. Harvey St., Village of Shelby. – 12:15 p.m., (SPD), truancy, E.…

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Panther Science Olympiad squads excel.

March 23, 2016
Panther Science Olympiad squads excel.

ALMA — Hesperia middle school and high school students had exciting finishes during regional competition of Science Olympiad at Alma College Saturday, March 19. The high school team finished fifth out of 16 teams, and the newly-formed middle school team finished sixth out of 12 West Michigan teams. Science Olympiad provided challenges for students interested in STEM (Science Technology Engineering…

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MSP asks residents to be ‘vigilant’ in wake of terrorist attack.

March 22, 2016
MSP asks residents to be ‘vigilant’ in wake of terrorist attack.

No current threats to Michigan. HART — In light of the terrorist attack in Belgium, the Michigan State Police are asking Michigan residents to be vigilant by looking out for any suspicious behavior or activity and notifying law enforcement immediately if they see something suspicious, according a press release issued Tuesday, March 22, by the Hart post. “There are no…

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Property destruction, break-in among police activity.

March 22, 2016
Property destruction, break-in among police activity.

The following is recent local law enforcement activity: Monday, March 21, 2016: – 12:19 p.m., (Oceana County Sheriff’s Office), unwanted subject, W. Fox Rd., Golden Township. – 3:26 p.m., (OCSO), larceny, S. Cherokee Bend, Rothbury. – 5:51 p.m., (OCSO), domestic assault, S. Robinhood Dr., Grant Township. – 7:27 p.m., (Pentwater Police Department), malicious destruction of property (MDOP), N. Third Ave.,…

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Changes to Social Security could impact retirement benefits

March 22, 2016

LUDINGTON – West Shore Bank is recommending that people between the ages of 62 and 66 years of age evaluate their retirement strategies due to the possible impact caused by the Bipartisan Budget Act, approved by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015. As a result of the Bipartisan Budget Act, certain filing strategies will no longer be available to…

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New Michigan Works position to help area businesses.

March 21, 2016
New Michigan Works position to help area businesses.

SHELBY – Michigan Works! West Central is pleased to announce the appointment of Merri Bennett in the newly-created role of business services specialist. In her role, Bennett will represent Michigan Works! West Central in partnering with area economic development, education, and training organizations to help better serve businesses in Mason and Oceana counties. “We are very excited to add this…

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78th District Court sentencings.

March 21, 2016
78th District Court sentencings.

The court news is sponsored by Emelander Law Firm, PC, serving Oceana, Mason and Newaygo counties. Office: 231.303.5005; Cell: 231.303.0905. www.emelanderlaw.com. By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. HART — The following were sentenced recently in 78th District Court: – Billie Arthur Welch, 68, of 2415 Meadow Ave., Rothbury, was found guilty March 14 of assault and battery and sentenced to 93…

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County employees’ prom event raises money for Roy’s Kids.

March 21, 2016
County employees’ prom event raises money for Roy’s Kids.

  PENTWATER TOWNSHIP — Oceana County employees recently hosted the second annual “Time Warp Prom” at the Pentwater Days Inn & Suites, raising $651 for the Roy’s Kids charitable program. This year’s event featured a luau theme and was very well-attended. Roy’s Kids is a local charity that provides gifts and holiday meals to less fortunate families in Oceana County.…

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Drunk driving, domestic assault arrests among police activity.

March 21, 2016
Drunk driving, domestic assault arrests among police activity.

The following is activity of the Hart post of the Michigan State Police in Oceana County over the weekend: Saturday, March 19, 2016: – 12:40 p.m., a 25-year-old Hart man was arrested on a fugitive warrant, US 31 and Polk Rd., Hart Township. Sunday, March 20, 2016: – 2:36 a.m., a 37-year-old Montague woman was arrested for operating while intoxicated,…

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Teen faces terrorism charge for allegedly threatening to blow up school.

March 20, 2016
Teen faces terrorism charge for allegedly threatening to blow up school.

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. WALKERVILLE — Bryce Chandler Fulford-Hasse, 17, of 9411 12 Mile Rd., Walkerville, was arrested March 3 by the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office for a felony of false report or threat of terrorism, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Fulford-Hasse allegedly wrote, “I’m going to blow the school away at 3:30 p.m.”…

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Ludington man dies after US 31 crash. 

March 19, 2016

WEARE TOWNSHIP — A 34-year-old Ludington man died Saturday, March 19, following a two-vehicle crash at US 31 and Oceana Drive at 4:35 p.m. A preliminary investigation by Michigan State Police Hart Post indicates that William Charles Sielski was in the process of making a left turn from the top of the north bound US 31 exit ramp at Oceana…

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27th Circuit Court sentencings include breaking/entering, child abuse.

March 19, 2016
27th Circuit Court sentencings include breaking/entering, child abuse.

The court news is sponsored by Emelander Law Firm, PC, serving Oceana, Mason and Newaygo counties. Office: 231.303.5005; Cell: 231.303.0905. www.emelanderlaw.com. By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. HART — The following were sentenced recently in 27th Circuit Court: – John Roger Hastings, 42, of 122 E. Columbia St., Mason, Michigan, was found guilty Feb. 1 of failure to pay child support…

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78th District Court arraignments include unarmed robbery, breaking/entering.

March 19, 2016
78th District Court arraignments include unarmed robbery, breaking/entering.

The court news is sponsored by Emelander Law Firm, PC, serving Oceana, Mason and Newaygo counties. Office: 231.303.5005; Cell: 231.303.0905. www.emelanderlaw.com. By Allison Scarbrough, OCP Editor. HART — The following were arraigned recently in front of the 78th District Court Magistrate: Felonies – Kyle Nathaniel Russell, 31, of 7729 Arrowhead Dr., Weidman, Michigan, was arrested by the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office…

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Living in the OC: How sweet it is!

March 18, 2016
Living in the OC: How sweet it is!

‘Living in the OC’ is sponsored by Springstead Law Offices, with locations in Hart and Fremont, 231-873-4022 (Hart), www.springsteadlaw.com. By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. ELBRIDGE TOWNSHIP — What started out as a hobby for Tom Merten when he was a 10-year-old boy has flourished into a family business. Located on Polk Road just east of Hart, a visit to Merten…

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Ludington, Whitehall mortician faces additional charges after more cremains found.

March 18, 2016
Ludington, Whitehall mortician faces additional charges after more cremains found.

WHITEHALL — A Ludington funeral home owner is being investigated by law enforcement to determine if he made a business mistake or defrauded an area family, according to a report by our partners at WZZM-TV 13 of Grand Rapids. Thomas Clock III, continues to be the subject of an on-going investigation by the Muskegon County Sheriff’s Office. Clock owns Clock Funeral Home…

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Woman arrested on domestic violence, MDOP charges.

March 18, 2016
Woman arrested on domestic violence, MDOP charges.

LEAVITT TOWNSHIP — A 35-year-old Walkerville woman was arrested by troopers from the Hart post of the Michigan State Police Thursday, March 17, at 8:15 p.m. on charges of domestic violence and malicious destruction of property (MDOP) in the 6000 block of VanBuren Road. Other local law enforcement activity March 17, 2016 includes: – 12:16 a.m., (Hart Police Department), criminal…

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A look at diversifying your investment portfolio.

March 18, 2016
A look at diversifying your investment portfolio.

The Financial Minute is sponsored by SSB Financial Services located at Shelby State Bank, with offices in Shelby, Hart, Pentwater, Ludington, Manistee, Hesperia, North Muskegon and Fruitport. www.ssbfinancialservices.com Ancient Chinese merchants are said to have developed a unique way to reduce their risk. They would divide their shipments among several different vessels. That way, if one ship were to sink…

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Crashes, domestic assaults among police activity.

March 16, 2016
Crashes, domestic assaults among police activity.

The following is local law enforcement activity in Oceana County Tuesday, March 15, 2016: – 7:30 a.m., (Michigan State Police, Hart post), a 31-year-old Shelby man was arrested for failure to report a property damage accident, Garfield R. and 128th Ave., Ferry Township. – 2:52 p.m., (Oceana County Sheriff’s Office), reckless driver, W. Monroe Rd., Weare Township. – 3:34 p.m.,…

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