Free Soil News

School officials estimate Free Soil Community School has more than $247,000 in the bank as the new fiscal school year starts today.

Mason County Relay for Life's speaker Cristi Gillies will share the story of her battle with cancer and the facility that helped bring her hope.

When U.S. 31 reopened shortly after noon Tuesday, it looked to observers like the people driving the road were trying to make up for time lost during a four-and-a-half day closure of the road.

Progress is being made in returning life in northern Mason County to a semblance of normality in the wake of a devastating storm Thursday night.

Strong storms Thursday night and today have caused flooding and damage that has closed many Mason County roads and intersections, authorities said.

Severe storms have ravaged parts of West Michigan for the second time in less than a week.

In spite of increasing prices for materials and decreasing state funding, the Mason County Road Commission has a full slate of projects planned for the summer months.

“We target increasing skills in reading and math for the elementary program and ... high school is credit recovery, so it depends on what a student needs”

' Mason County Eastern will again offer a summer school program this year, giving high school students a chance to make up classes they failed. via Ludington Daily News

“That house was built in the 1800s, so that was some dry wood”

' A fire that tied up Fountain's fire department for more than 16 hours Friday night and Saturday was suspicious, but isn't likely to be investigated further. via Ludington Daily News

“I'm disappointed. We would always like to see more voters.”

Voting was slow Tuesday, very slow at most precincts. In fact, the election may be close to a record for the lowest voter turnout in Mason County. via Ludington Daily News

“The advantage (to a sinking fund) is we wouldn't have to take money from the general fund for maintenance. Now we'll have to look at the general fund.”

' Only 15 percent of Free Soil Community School District voters cast ballots in Tuesday's election and a slim majority defeated the district's request for a three-year, 1.25-mill sinking fund tax. via Ludington Daily News

“We're going to have what you call a 'slow ride,' ”

'Slow ride' on tractors to raise funds for cancer By Susan Harrison Wolffis susanharrison@muskegonchronicle.com WEST MICHIGAN -- Don't expect Betty Church to set any speed records when she fires up her 1945 ... via Muskegon Chronicle

Many area school board seats will be filled by the May 6 election, and Free Soil voters will decide then if they will approve a three-year, 1.25-mill sinking fund tax to pay for continued improvements to their ... via Ludington Daily News

“I've been a very blessed woman for 40 years”

' Jeanne Oakes announced this morning she'll retire from her positions as superintendent for both the Mason-Lake and Oceana intermediate school districts. via Ludington Daily News

“We're glad to have those kids from other districts. They're helping us keep the school open.”

' The school board voted 6-0 Monday to ask voters to approve a new sinking fund tax to pay for school building and grounds improvements. via Ludington Daily News

Faltering in only one quarter, Manistee Catholic Central methodically rolled to a 67-48 Western Michigan D League boys basketball victory over Onekama on Friday. via Ludington Daily News

A woman noticed someone in the house next door to her Free Soil home Wednesday afternoon and called police, stopping a breaking and entering in progress. via Ludington Daily News

“Just as long as they don't play too much with retirement costs and keep them close so they don't offset this $200 increase”

's latest budget proposal will provide most Michigan K-12 school districts with cost-of-living increases for the first time in many years. via Ludington Daily News

“The board wanted to protect the taxpayers' investment”

' Cameras are now recording movements inside and outside of Free Soil Community School and they could help catch people breaking into the school in the future. via Ludington Daily News