4pm May 15th, was the filing deadline for County Officer positions.  Here in Mason County, Prosecuting Attorney Paul Spaniola will be running unopposed for re-election.  For the position of Sheriff, Kim Cole will be facing off against current Sheriff Jeff Fiers.  In the race for probate judge, Jeff Nellis will run against Nick Krieger.

Ray Franz will have no Republican challenger in the August primary.  He will face either Derek Bailey or Allen O'Shea of Manistee County in November for the 101st House seat.

In the 100th District, that includes Oceana County, incumbent Republican Jon Bumstead will be challeneged by Stewart Sander in August.  One Democrat, Ida DeHass, will be facing the GOP winner in November.

Bill Huizenga (a friend of the Morning Madhouse who calls in for an interview every other week) will face no opposition for the Second District seat.

Memorial Medical Center is planning on constructing a large expansion for their hospital.  Today MMC, will go before the County Commissioners seeking approval to issue bonds to pay for the work.  The plans call for over 15,000 square feet of surgery area and over 17,000 square feet of emergency area to be constructed.  The cost of the project is roughly 14.5 million dollars.

According to a Sheriff's report, the Mason County Sheriff's Department is currently investigating a breaking and entering that took place at Lincoln Hills Golf Club.  The theft of several electronic items was discovered.  The crime took place yesterday and investigation continues.

Just after 1am this past Saturday the Mason County Sheriff's Office was called to the scene of a serious traffic crash on US-31 near Townline Road.  According to authorities the crash happened when the southbound vehicle crossed the centerline and struck a northbound vehicle.

Three people, all from Free Soil, ages 35, 30, and 6, where in the southbound vehicle.  All three were taken to MMC and later transferred to Spectrum Hospital in Grand Rapids.  Their injuries are considered serious.

The driver of the other, northbound vehicle was a 22 year old Benzonia man.  He was the lone occupant of the car and is being treated at MMC.