Latest News
Saugatuck planners turn eyes on selves
By Scott Sullivan Editor Page 82 of this Thursday’s Saugatuck Planning Commission agenda packet lists learning that PC member C.J. Bagierek has likely operated a short-term rental on his 610 Lake St. properly illegally as a “Learning and Improvement Opportunity.” …
Douglas chicken flap precedes law change
By Scott Sullivan Editor Debbi Larsen, 3071 May St., wrote the City of Douglas March 9 about her neighbor’s chickens. “These issues,” she said, “began over 2 years ago when Cassandra (not her real name) came to my door asking…
Streets need work, Douglas manager says
By Scott Sullivan Editor Will Douglas settle for letting more and more roads crumble? city manager Lisa Nocerini posed it not quite that way. New PASER (Pavement Surface Evaluation Rating) figures more than one-third of the city’s 16 road miles…
Laketown pauses dead-end pave, for not
By Jim Hayden Correspondent The Laketown Township Board at a special meeting March 12 paused paving a dead-end road for financial concerns. They the week before had green-lit paving 61st Street north of 138th Avenue for about $441,000. The decision,…
Who gets Laketown Beach access? When?
By Jim Hayden Corresondent New stairs at Laketown Township Beach might be built this year following a township board decision March 12. Laketown applying for a state grant for other work at the beach as well. The board unanimously voted…
Sports
Allegan tennis faces Portage Central, Otsego
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor PORTAGE—The Allegan girls tennis team got an early look at its 2026 lineup with preseason action at the Maple Street YMCA.The Tigers faced Division 1-ranked Portage Central as well as former Wolverine Conference rival Otsego in…
Softball Preview:
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor ALLEGANAs she enters her first season as head coach at Allegan, Danielle Brodhagen said the team has one primary focus.“We’re focusing on being women of integrity,” she said.Because if the players on the team approach everything…
Mattawan cheerleaders issue team awards
By John Raffel Mattawan cheer coach Nicole Plumb has announced her 2025-26 team awards.Positive Mental Attitude: Marissa Rutledge,Best Energy: Teagan Cassada.Most Inspiring: Annie Headaphol.True Loyalty: Makena Watson and Ashley Smith.Most Valuable Player Round 1: Ashley Smith.Most Valuable Player Round 2:…
Hocter, Burns win state wrestling individual titles
B Jeff Steers Contributing Writer Local wrestlers Austyn Hocter of Hanover-Horton and Wyatt Burns of Springport high schools won MHSAA state individual wrestling titles Saturday at Ford Field in Detroit. They did it in different fashions. Hocter dominated his match…
Colon wins first-ever boys’ basketball regional title
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director MARCELLUS — Fans of the Colon Magi could feel that history was happening with every shot taken in the last few minutes of Thursday night’s MHSAA Division 4 boys’ basketball regional finals game against Battle Creek…
Columns
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorDouble ThreatThok-thok-thok. One blow after another is good in pickleball for the players. Less so for editors who assume — i.e. make an ASS of U and ME — Saugatuck City Council March 9 would rubber-stamp its Parks…
Life as Performance Art
Sometime in the 1970s my late wife Pat was hired to run an elder artists program for the City of Chicago. Her job was to recruit senior citizens to design and make art to be sold in places like Carson…
Mike’s Musings: Speculators, not war are driving gas prices higher
Every time Americans pull up to the pump, they’re told the same story: gas prices are high because of global supply problems, geopolitical tensions, or refinery issues. Those factors certainly play a role. For instance the war with Iran has…
Out and About: Outgrowing life, Daylight Saving, and babies
“The sun himself is weak when he first rises, and gathers strength and courage as the day gets on.” -Charles DickensSix Signs You Are Outgrowing Your Life
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorThe WendigoA pickleball brawl broke out on Spruce Creek Country Club courts Feb. 8 in Port Orange, Fla. Seems Tony Sapienza, 63 and wife Julianne, 51 and a rival senior couple fought over rules, Tony hammered plaintiff in…
