Ludington Area Schools have undergone a few changes in leadership positions. Lakeview Elementary principal Randy Fountain has been hired to be the new Ludington athletic director, replacing Brian Dotson who will become the new principal at Foster Elementary. Both men are familiar with the community and a majority of the staffs they will be working alongside. Lakeview will begin looking for a new principal soon to replace Fountain in time for the upcoming school year. 

Congratulations to Ludington’s Cameron Doan who has been recognized and awarded by Governor Rick Snyder as the 2015 “Youth Volunteer of the Year.”

17 year-old Doan is the brain behind a set of projects he calls “A Bedroom of Their Own” where he leads a group of volunteers in putting together bedrooms to give underprivileged children their own place to feel at home.

Doan also stays involved in hurricane and disaster relief, helps feed local homeless, serves on mission trips, and is a positive mentor to local youth.

To get involved with Doan's project or others like it, visit: http://help-ministry.org/

June 29th is a sad anniversary in the city of Ludington. Four years ago today, Katherine “Baby Kate” Phillips disappeared. That afternoon her father, Sean Phillips, drove away from her mother Ariel Courtland’s apartment complex with Kate in the car. Courtland would never see her daughter again.

State and federal authorities searched for Baby Kate for weeks. The FBI was brought in to help investigate.

After almost a year of legal discrepancies and no sign of the child, Sean Phillips was sentenced 10 to 15 years in state prison for the unlawful imprisonment of his daughter.

Three months later, Courtland received a letter from Phillips in which many argue he admits to having killed their child. In October 2013, Phillips was charged with open murder based on the new evidence. The case was brought back to court where Mason County District Judge Peter Wadel dismissed the murder charge after finding insufficient evidence.

That ruling has since been overturned and probable cause for a trial has been determined. Wadel appointed himself to the trial and, despite a motion to have him disqualified, will serve as the judge sometime later this year.

Many in the community and the country await justice for Baby Kate, and hopefully a trial will prove to be enough to bring the truth to the surface. 

The website Thrillist.com ranked all fifty states and put Michigan as the definitive best state. According to the popular website, "it's based on everything",  like food/drink, somewhat famous people, unique physical beauty, etc. It would appear that the Pure Michigan campaign, currently under fire due to budget cuts, has caught the countries attention and pulled votes away from vacation states like Florida which actually ranked dead last at 50. Ohio was ranked 48th and labeled the "Florida of the North".

Last night kicked off the summer bonfire series at Stearns Park Beach. Hundreds of locals and visitors packed the beach to spend time with family and friends. WMOM spoke with Ludington woman S.K. Osborne about the huge community gathering.

“This is just perfect. We’ve got great entertainment, you have people visiting, you have friends together, and we got to see a killer sunset!”  

Osborne went on to explain the importance of the bonfires and why she appreciates them.

“This is what you do if you live on the lake in Michigan and this is what makes America, America.”

The next installment of the bonfire series will be held on July 23^rd.