Latest News

City eyes Airport easement, landfill sites

City eyes Airport easement, landfill sites

ByEditorial StaffOct 17, 20244 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorSaugatuck City Council Oct. 9 discussed a proposed conservation easement affecting 45.33 acres on the east side of its 170-acre Old Airport property.Members also learned more about a tentative pact giving neighbor Saugatuck Township six months to conduct…

Candidates vie for spot on Otsego Board of Education

Candidates vie for spot on Otsego Board of Education

ByEditorial StaffOct 17, 202411 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Four candidates are on Nov. 5 ballot for three open positions on the Otsego Public Schools Board of Education.Current school board president Amy Stender and Jason Davis—who was appointed to the board in August to fill…

1871 Taproom opens for business in downtown Plainwell

1871 Taproom opens for business in downtown Plainwell

ByEditorial StaffOct 17, 20243 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The newest eating establishment in downtown Plainwell is officially open for business.Located at 107 S. Main St., 1871 Taproom welcomed patrons for the first time on Thursday, Oct. 10, and is now open daily.Brothers John and…

Playground equipment added to Memorial Park

Playground equipment added to Memorial Park

ByEditorial StaffOct 17, 20243 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Go back in time with me, if you would, to the year 2002.The original Tony Maguire “Spiderman” movie ruled the box office. “American Idol” debuted on FOX. Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” was among the most listened-to songs.Also…

County Building Open House uncovers aspacious work environment

County Building Open House uncovers aspacious work environment

ByEditorial StaffOct 17, 20243 min read

By Gari Voss The Allegan County building on 122nd Avenue northwest of Allegan unveiled the spacious working quarters of the Allegan County administrative staff, vital county services, and the newly renovated areas for the County Treasurer, Register of Deeds and…

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Sports

Trailblazers fall to Schoolcraft

Trailblazers fall to Schoolcraft

ByEditorial StaffOct 17, 20242 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports EditorSCHOOLCRAFT—In the fourth quarter of the SAC football game between visiting Saugatuck and host Schoolcraft, Trailblazer Norm Bos found the end zone on a 7-yard run.That was enough to enable Saugatuck to avoid the shutout. But it…

Otsego cross teams sweep Plainwell

Otsego cross teams sweep Plainwell

ByEditorial StaffOct 17, 20242 min read

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor OTSEGO—It was a sweep for the Otsego cross country teams when they hosted rival Plainwell on Tuesday, Oct. 8.The Otsego girls secured the 16-45 victory to finish the regular-season potion of the season a perfect 7-0.…

Allegan swim & dive beats Marshall

Allegan swim & dive beats Marshall

ByEditorial StaffOct 17, 20242 min read

The Allegan girls swim & dive team continued its strong season with a 109-75 win over Marshall on Tuesday, Oct. 8.The Tigers remained perfect in the league at 5-0.Allegan delivered outstanding individual performances, with Mari Nistal Palacios claiming first place…

Marching Bulldogs place second in band competition

Marching Bulldogs place second in band competition

ByEditorial StaffOct 17, 20241 min read

On Sunday, October 6th, The LaFayette High school Mighty Marching Bulldog Band traveled down to Columbus,GA, to compete in the 3rd annual Kendrick High School Battle of the Bands!! The competition was exciting with 8 bands competing.The Lafayette High School…

Lawton football team defeats Coloma

Lawton football team defeats Coloma

ByEditorial StaffOct 17, 20241 min read

By John RaffelCorrespondent LAWTON – Lawton’s football team improved to 4-2-1 overall with a 46-8 win over Coloma on Friday.It was 13-0 after the first quarter, 19-9 at halftime and 33-0 after the third quarter. Lawton had a 13-8 scoring…

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Columns

Blue Star

Blue Star

ByEditorial StaffOct 17, 20244 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorBlowupIt was a tough week for Tropicanas. LasVegas blew up the Tropicana Oct. 9, then Hurricane Milton ripped the roof off Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., hours later.The former hotel and casino, the Sin City Strip’s last…

Mike’s Musings: My fear of “Bambi” makes me a nervous Driver

Mike’s Musings: My fear of “Bambi” makes me a nervous Driver

ByEditorial StaffOct 17, 20243 min read

The social media memes showing vice-presidential candidate Tim Walz fumbling with loading his shotgun at a pheasant hunt reminded that this is the time of year when my mind sometimes wanders to “Bambi” and the confrontations I have had with…

Life as Performance Art

Life as Performance Art

ByEditorial StaffOct 17, 20244 min read

I read an online religious news service article saying hunting was a form of conservation fulfilling God’s instructions to Adam and Eve to take dominion over the earth. That is an interesting perspective.For many years The Commercial Record printed a…

“Out and About” Writing, Painting, and Indigenous Peoples’ Day

“Out and About” Writing, Painting, and Indigenous Peoples’ Day

ByEditorial StaffOct 14, 20243 min read

“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” -Zig ZiglarLast week I had the privilege to meet with a group of writers. They are not as well known as they should be,…

HISTORICAL NOTEBOOK

HISTORICAL NOTEBOOK

ByEditorial StaffOct 14, 20243 min read

By Frank Passic LAKE SHORE RAILROAD ONCE SERVICED ALBION             With the mention of Jackson County railroads a few weeks ago in this publication, we are reminded that Albion has its own memorable railroad history which was a part of…

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Obituaries

Obituary: Peter Lenzo, 68

Obituary: Peter Lenzo, 68

ByEditorial StaffOct 17, 20242 min read

Peter Lenzo died peacefully at home after bravely facing decades of seizures and their repercussions while still managing to live and love to the fullest and to transform his intellect and heart and soul into beautiful and meaningful art. He…

Obituary: Dolores Agnes Rohloff

Obituary: Dolores Agnes Rohloff

ByEditorial StaffOct 17, 20243 min read

Dolores Agnes Rohloff, born in Detroit, MI, on August 17, 1932, passed away peacefully on October 11, 2024, in Kalamazoo, MI, surrounded by her loving family. She was a beloved daughter of Raymond and Dorothy (Pilbeam) Selkirk. Dolores will be…

Obituary: Donn Matthew Wiley

Obituary: Donn Matthew Wiley

ByEditorial StaffOct 17, 20241 min read

Donn Matthew Wiley passed away peacefully at the age of 85 on October 8, 2024 at his home in Allegan, MI.  Born June 21, 1939 in Allegan, he was the son of the late William and Earline (Counterman) Wiley.  Donn…

Obituary: Joyce Arlene Miles (Pittner)

Obituary: Joyce Arlene Miles (Pittner)

ByEditorial StaffOct 17, 20243 min read

Joyce Arlene Miles (Pittner), a beacon of love and friendship, passed away peacefully on October 6, 2024, in Allegan, Michigan, at the age of 90. Born on June 18, 1934, in Plainwell, MI, Joyce lived a life marked by devotion…

Obituary: Margaret Jean Vander Vere

Obituary: Margaret Jean Vander Vere

ByEditorial StaffOct 17, 20243 min read

AUGUST 4, 1934 – SEPTEMBER 23, 2024 Margaret Jean Vander Vere,  left this world at the remarkable age of ninety. Diagnosed with dementia and pre-Alzheimer’s in 1999, Margaret approached her diagnosis like she approached life — with determination, humor, and…

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