The Leeward Initiative

02/25/2026

Last year, a bill to ban a derivative of kratom, 7-OH, was proposed. The new bill takes it a step further by fully banning kratom, not just the derivative.

01/16/2026

Hey Mason County Central friends and family! Operation Parent is a great resource, and we are grateful that one of our coalition members gets to facilitate this.
Thank you Phil!

We’re excited to invite our MCC families to a fun and meaningful series focused on literacy, connection, and conversations that matter. Parents and students will learn together, enjoy great books, build skills around Social Media, safe gaming, bullying, kindness, and friendships, and wrap up each night with dinner and a family activity. 💙

📅 Limited spots available, please call Ms. Angie to RSVP at 231-757-3713 ext 1707, RSVP Extended to January 21st! THE FRST 25 FAMILIES TO RSVP WILL RECIEVE A $10 GAS CARD.
Check out the poster or see the flyer that was sent home with your students for dates, times, and details on how to RSVP—we hope to see you there!

12/30/2025

🎉🚍 Plan ahead and count on this: Local transportation companies will get you where you need to go on New Year’s Eve in Pure Ludington!

FREE rides are offered to and from your destination or even one party to the next.

Reservations may be made with Ludington Mass Transit on 12/31/25 from 6 a.m.-2 p.m. and 9 p.m.-2:30 a.m by calling 231-845-6218.

Decide to enjoy the festivities, but brought your car? Local tow companies will tow your car home for free, thanks to our community partners.

VIEW more info on the night's events here: https://www.downtownludington.org/events/nye

12/30/2025

This New Years Eve, the Leeward Initiative is piloting a new project called “Glow Safe, Go Sober”. You may know us from our sober ride coaster distribution to local bars the past few years, but this year the Coalition wanted to see a a focus on the New Years Eve after-party locations. As some of our bars in Downtown Ludington still received coasters this year, we would like to thank Timbers Prime Steak & Seafood and The Tiki Lounge for letting us pilot this project as they stay open until 4am on NYE.

Our goal is to help promote getting a safe and sober ride home by utilizing the safe rides provided through a QR code on a glow bracelet.
These safe rides were organized through Downtown Ludington and we would like to thank all of the tow services, taxi services, and additional rides participating this New Years Eve.

Glow safe, go sober.

Stay safe and have a great New Years! 🎉

12/23/2025

It’s that time of year again! We are helping promote safe rides and free tows as much as possible around the New Years Eve celebration. Select bars in Downtown Ludington will be receiving drink coasters for their guests to make sure everyone can get a safe and sober ride home.
Thank you Downtown Ludington, and all of the participating tow companies, taxi companies, and LMTA for partnering to keep people safe.

12/13/2025

A great activity for any local teens, grades 6-12. Help spread the word.

The Mason County District Library will be working alongside Staircase Youth Services to bring the joy of the holidays to our teens. We will be having a hot cocoa bar and decorating stockings in the Rotary Room on Tuesday. December 16th from 3:30 - 5 PM. This is a teen event for those in 6th - 12th grades. This event is free. Come decorate a stocking for yourself, a friend, or someone you care about and enjoy a cozy cocoa. We will have wrapping supplies available for teens who choose to make a stocking as a gift.

12/12/2025

The coalition held our December meeting with some extra spirit. With ugly sweater contests, pin the nose on Rudolph, and more activities, we had a great meeting! Our focus area of the day was prepping for our upcoming coaster distribution to local bars around getting people safe rides home on New Years. Stay tuned for more updates around safe rides.

12/04/2025

Thank you Mason County Youth Advisory Council (YAC) for letting us present an activity around how you, and others, cope with stress. A big focus of the coalition has been supporting youth mental health. Hearing your voice always matters and we appreciate the time you took to give us feedback.

11/24/2025

We had to hunt for this feature that we missed when it came out in October!

By Mark Varenhorst, MCP Contributing Writer AMBER TOWNSHIP — Over the past few months I have written articles on ships, tugs/barges, and ship yard items. Even riding with the Mason County Sheriff’s Office Marine Unit as well, but that still entailed things with boats. Recently my editor asked if...

11/24/2025

We are enjoying these features on our local SROs, who are also members of our coalition!

By Mark Varenhorst, MCP Contributing Writer PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — Mason County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Dave Barnett is assigned to Ludington Area School District’s Ludington Elementary School (LES) as its school resource officer. LES encompasses elementary grades that had been scattered ab...

10/30/2025

What a great feature on Officer Postma. We are lucky that he (and our other wonderful SROs) are members of our coalition!

Spartan News is a presentation of Mason County Central School District in partnership with Mason County Press. By Mark Varenhorst, MCP Contributing Writer SCOTTVILLE — Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 found me at Mason County Central Schools meeting up with Mason County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Luke Postm...

10/30/2025

This morning we have a word search for you! Take a screenshot and then DM us your completed word search! We will post the answer page in the comments tomorrow.