Latest News
Bonding narrowly approved for county courthouse renovation project
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — Despite opposition from numerous citizen attendees and some commissioners, the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday narrowly approved bonding up to $6 million to cover a portion of the cost of a renovation…
Railcar Graffiti’s St. Patrick’s Day fun, traditional food fills house at Albion Malleable Brewing Company
by Sylvia Benavidez Keeping Irish American traditions alive on St. Patrick’s Day, Albion Malleable Brewing Company located on S. Superior St. served corned beef and cabbage, Baileys Irish Crème Brule for dessert, and from 6-8:00 p.m. traditional Irish and Welch…
Two women embody the spirit of Women’s History Month on St. Patrick’s Day and beyond
by Sylvia Benavidez March celebrates Women’s History Month as well as St. Patrick’s Day and in Marshall two women support each other’s businesses and live the spirit of the month with their partnership. Pansy Goheen, Tekonsha, celebrated St. Patrick’s Day…
Sturgis school board approves science curriculum request, gets update on steering committee, Eastwood driveway project
By Dennis Volkert Sturgis Public Schools Board of Education on March 17 approved adoption of science curriculum upgrades for K-2 and high school.In February, the board received a list of requests from educators to fund educational materials, equipment improvement and…
Sports
Two Howardsville basketball stars earn All-BCS honors
HOWARDSVILLE — Two Howardsville Christian boys’ basketball players received First-Team All-Conference Honors from the BCS Conference earlier this month.Seniors Kaden Sparks and John Paul Rose received the honor, while Sparks was runner-up for the conference’s Player of the Year award.For…
Glen Oaks AD offers plans for games, practices while construction occurs Offers general updates on athletic department
By Robert TomlinsonNews Director CENTREVILLE — Glen Oaks Community College’s athletic director says there are plans in progress for athletic contests while a renovation to the gym area is completed next academic year.In a presentation to the GOCC Board of…
Harrison competes at CMU
By John RaffelCorrespondent HARRISON —Harrison’s track and field teams competed at the Central Michigan University High School Invitational on Friday.Placing for the Harrison boys were:Daniel Stewart 33rd in the 60-meter dash (7.78 seconds) and 23rd in the 200-meter dash (25.12),…
Blazers fall to P-W in regional semis
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorGRANDVILLE—All things, no matter how good, must eventually come to an end.For the Saugatuck girls basketball team, the end came in a Division 3 regional semifinal on Monday, March 10.Taking on top-ranked and unbeaten Pewamo-Westphalia, the Trailblazers…
Otsego’s Smith capture two more state championships
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor YPSILANTI—People collect all sorts of things, like baseball cards, stamps, coins and rocks.Otsego junior Liam Smith? He collects state championships.In the Division 3 Boys Swim & Dive State Finals on Saturday, March 15, Smith won both…
Columns
Out and About: Useless info, armed forces wisdom, and oxymorons
My wife has suggested that I clean up my office. It seems she came in there yesterday and couldn’t find her way out. This prompted me to clear out a couple file folders filled with useless information. I thought you…
May I Walk wit You? PRAYER OF SURRENDER
In our adult formation program, The Rescue Project, we have come to a point where we have heard the Good News of Jesus Christ, again, and once more have the opportunity to respond. In a recent gathering we prayed this…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorDadDon’t you hate columns that start “Don’t you hate …”? Pick your poison. We all hate, say, robocalls. So how come there are so many?I call folks who lean on tropes like these faux curmudgeons. A real one…
Mike’s Musings: Let’s not spoil special relationship with Canada
President Trump likes to say his favorite word is “tariff.” He hopes to use the word to force corporations to locate in the United States, instead of other countries where they have tax and trade advantages. More corporations mean more…
Life as Performance Art
BY G.C. STOPPELFew hold party politics and politicians in high esteem. Campaigns grow longer and more expensive and polarization fiercer. Consensus and compromise are no longer goals; they are dirty words.The last presidential election was packed with negative ads and…
Obituaries
Obituary: Yvonne Joyce Koppenaal
Yvonne Joyce Koppenaal, age 91, passed away surrounded by family on Feb. 21, 2025.Growing up, Yvonne entered the workforce at age 15, working as a “pinky” at Holland Hospital. She eventually began a long retail career in Saugatuck, where she…
Obituary: Mary Ellen Stofer
Mary Ellen Stofer, age 75, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully on February 16, 2025 at Rose Arbor Hospice House in Kalamazoo. She was born on April 22, 1949 in South Bend, Indiana the daughter of the late Irwin Warkentien…
Obituary: Yvonne Joyce Koppenaal
Yvonne Joyce Koppenaal, age 91, passed away surrounded by family on Feb. 21, 2025.Growing up, Yvonne entered the workforce at age 15, working as a “pinky” at Holland Hospital. She eventually began a long retail career in Saugatuck, where she…
Obituary: Linda L. Wilson (Meade)
Linda L. Wilson (Meade), 79, of Allegan, Michigan, passed away peacefully Monday, February 17, 2025, with family by her side. Born December 28, 1945, in Allegan, Michigan, she was the daughter of the late Lynn and Lillian (Waanders) Meade.Linda was…
Obituary: Gerald Franklin Nye
Gerald Franklin Nye 85 yrs of age passed through the gates of heaven on Feb 11, 2025 in Traverse city at Munson Medical Center.Born in Douglas community hospital and raised on the farm in Ganges the son of Roy A.…
