Five departments battle farm blaze

November 17, 2014
Five departments battle farm blaze

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. MONTAGUE TWP. — Approximately 30 firefighters from five departments battled a winter storm while fighting a commercial farm fire late Monday afternoon, Nov. 17, just south of the Oceana County line in Muskegon County. A barn, which appeared to be a maintenance barn, was “totally destroyed,” firefighters at the scene said, as well as an…

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Shelby firefighters buy new tracked utility vehicle for department

November 17, 2014
Shelby firefighters buy new tracked utility vehicle for department

SHELBY — A 2015 Polaris Ranger 900 EPS, purchased by the Shelby-Benona Fire Fighters Association, is the fire department’s newest firefighting tool. “This unit was purchased by the Shelby-Benona Fire Fighters Association with funds raised from the Bob and Mary Ann Hukill Memorial Fire Scramble,” states a press release from the department. “This unit, when placed into service, should give…

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Many crashes over the snowy weekend

November 17, 2014
Many crashes over the snowy weekend

HART — Michigan State Police troopers handled five separate vehicle crashes over the weekend, which brought Oceana County drivers their first taste of winter driving in many months. Friday, Nov. 14, 2014 – 7:35 a.m., one-car property damage accident, Stony Lake Rd. and 44th Ave., Claybanks Twp. – 4 p.m., malicious destruction of property, cottage siding damaged, 2000 block of…

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4 ½ pounds of pot seized

November 15, 2014
4 ½ pounds of pot seized

BROOKS TWP (Newaygo Co.) — State police troopers discovered four and a half pounds of marijuana at a residence Saturday, Nov. 15, while investigating an assault complaint, according to a press release issued by MSP. “A 55-year-old Newaygo County man has been arrested by troopers from the Michigan State Police, Hart post, for domestic violence and possession with intent to…

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$4.5 million rail trail rebuild project to start in May

November 15, 2014
$4.5 million rail trail rebuild project to start in May

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. WHITEHALL — Over 30 officials representing roughly 20 different organizations recently heard about an ambitious $4.5 million project to rebuild the 22-mile William Field Memorial Hart-Montague Trail this summer. Representatives from the Michigan DNR, City of Hart, City of Montague, Oceana County Parks and Recreation, West Shore Snow Council, DTE, Hart Main Street, Hart Township,…

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Amended sentences yield jail terms

November 15, 2014

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. HART — Two defendants convicted of drug charges in 27th Circuit Court last September were sent to jail Monday, Nov. 10, after receiving amended sentences. – John Thomas Pinion, 29, of 589 S. Schenley St., Youngstown, Ohio, was found guilty Sept. 29 of controlled substance, possession of a non-narcotic. He received an amended sentence of…

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School district asks for bond issue input

November 14, 2014
School district asks for bond issue input

HART — Superintendent Mark Platt is seeking community input regarding a bond issue for school building improvements. Deadline is Monday, Nov. 17, at 4 p.m. This is a special message from Hart Public Schools.  Over the past several months Hart Public Schools has been discussing a possible bond issue with the primary focus being on the high school.  Hart Public…

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78th District Court sentencings

November 14, 2014
78th District Court sentencings

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. HART – The following were sentenced Monday, Nov. 10, by 78th District Court Judge H. Kevin Drake: –      Ivy Marie Cobb, 29, of 10682 Brickyard Rd., Holton, was found guilty Nov. 10 of operating while impaired. She was sentenced to $1,105 in fines and costs; Alcohol Highway Safety Education (AHSE); and 93 days discretionary jail.…

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78th District Court arraignments

November 14, 2014
78th District Court arraignments

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. HART – The following were arraigned Wednesday, Nov. 12, in front of the 78th District Court Magistrate: –      Levi James Mitchell, 19, of 62 Bennett St., Shelby, was arrested Nov. 3 by the Shelby Police Department for a misdemeanor of violation of a restricted license. A pretrial is set for Dec. 9 at 9:45 a.m.…

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Divers search for remains of woman presumed to be murdered

November 13, 2014
Divers search for remains of woman presumed to be murdered

WALKERVILLE — A law enforcement dive team has been searching in Walkerville area lakes Thursday, Nov. 13, for what police believe are the remains of a Newaygo County woman who disappeared the night of July 19, 2005. Margaret Maureen Heuser was reported missing to the Newaygo County Sheriff’s Office in August 2005, according to a NCSO press release. She was…

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Shelby couple reportedly used Facebook to solicit sex with 13-year-old girl

November 13, 2014
Shelby couple reportedly used Facebook to solicit sex with 13-year-old girl

MUSKEGON – Christian Rodriguez, 20, of Shelby, and his girlfriend,  Jenna Victoria Covey, 19, of Shelby, will stand trial on felony charges of using Facebook messages attempting to solicit a 13-year-old Muskegon County girl to have sexual contact with them, according to mlive. Rodriguez waived a preliminary examination in Muskegon County’s 60th District Court Wednesday, Nov. 12,  on a charge…

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Hart principal honored

November 13, 2014
Hart principal honored

HART — Spitler Elementary School Principal Amy Taranko is the MEMSPA (Michigan Elementary Middle Schools Principals Association) Regional Principal of the Year for Region 12. Taranko’s honor, which was announced Wednesday Nov. 12, is one of 13 in Michigan. Each of the 13 regions selects a representative as its principal of the year. Region 12’s requirement for the honor focuses…

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Hart PD arrests 2 on warrants

November 13, 2014
Hart PD arrests 2 on warrants

HART — Officers from the Hart Police Department arrested a 23-year-old Hart man and a 23-year-old Hart woman on Washington Street near Dryden Street Monday, Nov. 10, on warrants issued by the Fruitport Police Department. The female suspect is facing a charge of first-degree retail fraud, and the male suspect faces a charge of second-degree retail fraud, police said. Other…

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‘Women Who Care’ will meet Dec. 2

November 13, 2014
‘Women Who Care’ will meet Dec. 2

HART — The Women Who Care of Oceana County will hold their next quarterly meeting Tuesday, Dec. 2, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Open Hearth Grille, at 2430 N. 56th Ave. “It’s a wonderful coincidence that our group will meet on ‘Giving Tuesday,’ a global day of giving back,” said Deana Fox. The ‘Giving Tuesday’ concept was launched in New York…

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Police busy with car-deer crashes, warrant arrests

November 12, 2014
Police busy with car-deer crashes, warrant arrests

HART — Deputies from the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office and troopers from the Hart post of the Michigan State Police responded to a combined five car-deer crashes in the county Tuesday, Nov. 11. OCSO arrested three suspects on warrants. OCSO Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2014 – 1 a.m., 28-year-old Twin Lake man arrested on a warrant for failure to appear at…

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Welcome to the world! Local birth.

November 12, 2014
Welcome to the world! Local birth.

Birth announcements are sponsored by ABC Kidz/Purple Monkey, 123 E. Ludington Ave. Check them out here on Facebook.  Welcome to the world! Lilliana Marie Garza, the daughter of Abigail Fuentes and Johnny Garza of Crystal Valley, was born Nov. 8, 2014 at Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital. If you have a birth announcement to make, you are welcome to email the announcement and a…

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Suicide victim found in woods identified

November 12, 2014
Suicide victim found in woods identified

Editor’s Note: It is typically the policy of this news organization to not report on suicides. We believe these are typically events that are beyond the general “need-to-know” of the general public. However, we also believe that events that take place on public-owned land or in places frequented by the public are news worthy. For this reason, we are reporting…

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Motorhome stolen from historic district, recovered

November 11, 2014
Motorhome stolen from historic district, recovered

HART — The Hart Police Department is investigating the theft of a 21-foot motorhome that was taken Friday, Nov. 7, from inside a Hart Historic District building but recovered behind a business in the 3000 block of Polk Road the following day, Nov. 8. Hart Police Chief Dan Leimback said no visible damage was done to the vehicle, and there are…

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Electric Forest 2015 gets the green light

November 11, 2014
Electric Forest 2015 gets the green light

By Allison Scarbrough. OCP Editor. GRANT TWP. — One of the most popular music festivals in the world got the go-ahead with a split 3-2 vote from the Grant Township Board Monday evening, Nov. 10, for a mass gathering permit. The township, which has a population of around 3,000, is the site of the Electric Forest Festival, which draws tens…

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Hansen elected assistant senate majority leader.

November 10, 2014
Hansen elected assistant senate majority leader.

LANSING—Sen. Goeff Hansen was unanimously elected by the Senate Republican caucus on Thursday to be the next Michigan Assistant Senate Majority Leader. “I am happy to have the support of my caucus members and look forward to serving in this leadership role on behalf of the hard-working lakeshore residents I represent,” said Hansen, R-Hart. Hansen was elected last week to a second…

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Body found by hunter likely a suicide victim

November 10, 2014

OTTO TWP. — A hunter discovered a young man’s body inside a car in the Manistee National Forest Saturday afternoon, Nov. 8, and authorities believe the man died from carbon monoxide poisoning as a result of a suicide. An autopsy is being performed today, said Oceana County Sheriff Robert Farber. Deputies from the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office and troopers from…

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Eats & Drinks

Eats & Drinks

Eats & Drinks

Eats & Drinks