2024


Obituary: James (Jim) Gedney

Obituary: James (Jim) Gedney

Editorial StaffNov 1, 20242 min read

James (Jim) Gedney, age 64 of Beaverton, MI passed away peacefully in his sleep on Monday, October 22, 2024. He was born on June 30, 1960 to William (Bill) Gedney and Joyce (Newman) Earle. Jim grew up in Clare, MI…

Obituary: Dylan Mathew Clyne

Obituary: Dylan Mathew Clyne

Editorial StaffNov 1, 20242 min read

Dylan Mathew Clyne of Lake, known by many as Dyl Pickle or Sweet Pea, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, October 27, 2024, at the young age of 25. Dylan was born on August 27, 1999, in Flint to parents Philip…

Rhonda L. Calkins (Bigelow)

Rhonda L. Calkins (Bigelow)

Editorial StaffNov 1, 20242 min read

CALKINS (BIGELOW), RHONDA L., age 71, of Clare, passed away Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at Pioneer Golden Estates. Rhonda was born May 8, 1953, in Corona, California, the daughter of Merle and Marion (Yager) Calkins. Rhonda was a member of…

May I Walk with You? CHILDREN IN CHURCH

May I Walk with You? CHILDREN IN CHURCH

Editorial StaffNov 1, 20243 min read

Recently, I was stunned by a fellow church goer who witnessed another fellow church goer verbally criticizing a parent whose preschool children were not paying attention, but playing. The message was, “You need to make your kids behave! They bother…

Pat’s Bits and Pieces: Laundry baskets and junk drawers

Pat’s Bits and Pieces: Laundry baskets and junk drawers

Editorial StaffNov 1, 20244 min read

I have been sewing or on this computer all week long and this place looks like it.You would think with just the two of us living here it would stay pretty neat.Not so, my floor is covered in thread, scraps…

DAR and LOPA donate to veteran’s relief

DAR and LOPA donate to veteran’s relief

Editorial StaffNov 1, 20242 min read

By Pat MaurerCorrespondent Clare County Veteran’s Services were recently the recipients of $1,650 donated by members of the Michilimacinac Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and with the “very generous support” of the Lake of The Pines…

Last chance to vote Tuesday!

Editorial StaffNov 1, 20244 min read

By Pat MaurerCorrespondent After months of political wrangling on TV with commercials beyond count and signs and banners everywhere, all between candidates on the ballot November 5th, the big day is nearly here – only four days away in case…

South Haven Writer Experiences a Renaissance

South Haven Writer Experiences a Renaissance

Editorial StaffOct 31, 20244 min read

By James Windell Johanna Nauraine is enjoying her writing success lately. “This period of my life is my personal renaissance,” she commented recently during an interview in her South Haven apartment. “I was just notified that my short fiction horror…

Neidlinger is SPS super- pick

Editorial StaffOct 30, 20242 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor Mark Neidlinger will succeed Tim Travis seven years ago stepping from Middle/High School principal to superintendent of Saugatuck Public Schools. The school board picked Neidlinger Oct. 22, on heels of a public interview, to succeed Travis,…

Bond ask won’t mean new taxes, mayor says

Editorial StaffOct 30, 20244 min read

By Scott Sullivan Editor Douglas Mayor Cathy North issued a statement Oct. 24 emphasizing city council’s proposed $4-million bond request to renovate 415 Wiley Road into a city hall/police station will not require new taxes for residents and businesses. The…

Obituary: Mr. Frederick Roscoe Drake

Obituary: Mr. Frederick Roscoe Drake

Editorial StaffOct 30, 20241 min read

Mr. Frederick Roscoe Drake, 62, of Atlanta, GA (formerly of Roanoke) died Monday, October 21, 2024, at Harbor Grace Hospice, Atlanta, GA. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2024, at Canaan Baptist Church, 7485 County Road 278,…

Obituary: Joan Dyer Lambeth

Editorial StaffOct 30, 20241 min read

Lafayette, AL. – Joan Dyer Lambeth, age 87, passed away on Thursday, October 17, 2024.Joan is survived by her husband, William Lambeth; daughters, Debbie Vail (Walter), Beverly Cain (Mike); 6 grandchildren; and 5 great grandchildren.Joan was preceded in death by…

Obituary: Mrs. Willie Mae Bradshaw

Obituary: Mrs. Willie Mae Bradshaw

Editorial StaffOct 30, 20242 min read

Mrs. Willie Mae Bradshaw, 90, of Roanoke died Friday, October 18, 2024, at her residence. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2024, at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, 3435 County Road 288, Five Points at 1:00 p.m. (CST)…

Bulldogs treated to new locker room

Bulldogs treated to new locker room

Editorial StaffOct 30, 20241 min read

The LaFayette Bulldogs were treated to a surprise a few weeks ago.The players were brought out to the fieldhouse with their eyes closed and Head Coach Juan Williams revealed a totally new renovated locker room with flashing lights and music…

Rebels cruise past Cougars with unstoppable ground attack

Editorial StaffOct 30, 20243 min read

by Katie McElvy On September 2, the Chambers Academy Rebels visited the Fort Dale Eagles. As Luke Tarver took the ball to the house on a 63-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage, a veteran Eagle fan turned…

Plans for new quarry in Cusseta spark outrage

Plans for new quarry in Cusseta spark outrage

Editorial StaffOct 30, 20243 min read

By John BriceCorrespondentNews of plans to construct a new rock quarry in the portion of Cusseta located in Chambers County spread on social media this past week, leaving many local residents shocked and upset. According to the description on a…

LaFayette City Council approves smoke alarm program, other contracts

Editorial StaffOct 30, 20245 min read

By John BriceCorrespondent The LaFayette City Council met on Monday, October 28th of 2024 at the Chambers County Farmers Federation Agricultural Center at the ALFA building in LaFayette. In attendance were Mayor Kenneth Vines, Councilman Terry G. Mangram, Councilman David…

Obituary: William (Bill) Weaver Hess

Obituary: William (Bill) Weaver Hess

Editorial StaffOct 30, 20241 min read

William (Bill) Weaver Hess of Saugatuck passed away peacefully Oct. 21, 2024, after fighting a long illness. He is survived by his loving partner of 46 years, Michael (Mike) Mattern, four nieces and one nephew. Bill was predeceased by his…

Blue Star

Blue Star

Editorial StaffOct 30, 20244 min read

By Scott SullivanEditorJust becauseyou don’t know what itmeans doesn’t meanit means nothing. We’re No. 135!Saugatuck is the third Most Zen City in Michigan and 135th in the nation, per Mission Connection. With elections looming, this is balm to know.“In our…

Face of America

Face of America

Editorial StaffOct 30, 20241 min read

… as seen in Rado Kirov’s reflective sculpture “Pyramid” outside the Douglas Police Station on Center Street. The predominant yellow of fall leaves and silver of the sculpture surface have been color-inverted here. (Photo by Scott Sullivan)