2024

… and on the lakeshore, we take outdoor trails to do so. This week, let’s take a harvest peek. (Photos by Scott Sullivan)

By Scott SullivanEditorDarth’s DeathDarth Vader died Sept. 9. Or maybe the day before, I don’t know. Actor James Earl Jones, who played the Dark Force villain in “Star Wars” movies, was 93. There was no cause given.Too bad he missed…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor Relaxing. Hanging out with friends. Working to make some money.These are among the activities in which high school students traditionally engage during the summer months.For a group of four Otsego High School upperclassmen, part of this…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor When Otsego High School cross country coach Steve Long began the elementary cross country program in the district two years ago, he did so with a certain goal in mind.“I think initially starting this program was…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor During the past week, officials from Otsego Public Schools and Plainwell Community Schools emailed a letter to parents/guardians of students in their respective districts.Both revolved around issues involving school safety.The letter from Plainwell officials went out…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor The Allegan boys tennis team welcomed five teams—including Holland Christian, the top-ranked team in Division 4—to town on Saturday, Sept. 14, for the Allegan Invitational.The tournament was played using a blind-group-draw format, and the Tigers finished…

By Jason WesseldykSports Editor STURGIS—A dominant showing in doubles helped propel the Otsego boys tennis team past Wolverine Conference rival Sturgis on Monday, Sept. 16.The Bulldogs swept the four doubles flights to go with one singles win to give them…

Age 68 Grand Junction Passed away Sunday, September 15th, 2024 at his home.  Steve was born August 12, 1956 in Sault Ste Marie Michigan, son of the late Howard and Lorraine Pope, and lived the majority of his life in the…

I was riding my bicycle last Saturday (yes, the same bike I fell and broke my hip from a year ago) when I was about 8 miles from home, and I heard a loud splat. I knew immediately my bsck…

Allegan Cub Scout Pack 3026 hosted a Scout Salute in memory of those lost on 9-11-2001. Members of Pack 3026, Scouts BSA Troop 91 and Troop 191, and Girl Scout Troop 80024 participated in the event at the Allegan Veterans…

     After I wrote the Faces in the Crowd piece on teaching penmanship in school, my mind drifted  slightly sideways toward learning how to print in the first and second grade, and then cursive writing a year later.  That class…

By Rita Williams A Kent County Judge has denied a challenger’s attempt to keep an Allegan County Board of Commissioner Candidate from appearing on the ballot.On September 13, 2024, Judge George Quist denied Democratic Challenger Christi Allen’s request to prevent…

By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher A shelter in place order was issued at South Haven’s Baseline Middle School on Tuesday, September 10th, following unsettling comments made by a substitute teacher.According to the mother of one of the students in class that…

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — Following two days last week where classes were cancelled due to anonymous threats against schools in Three Rivers, the district’s school board president Monday praised the work done by administrators and police to…

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director SCHOOLCRAFT — There is a saying that Constantine head coach Shawn Griffith tells his players when it comes to their rivalry with Schoolcraft. “There’s only one thing more special than beating Schoolcraft, and that’s beating Schoolcraft…

The fall mum sale, presented by Exchange Club of Sturgis, continues through 6 p.m. Sept. 13 and 9 a.m.-noon Sept. 14, or until supply is depleted.  All proceeds benefit local community services.  Site is 306 W. Chicago Road, at southeast…

By Robert TomlinsonNews Director THREE RIVERS — For the second straight day this week, Three Rivers Community Schools was closed due to anonymous online threats against the district. On Thursday night, just one day after a threat over Snapchat closed…

by Jim Whitehouse Tomatoes. Wonderful things are tomatoes. Every spring when I plant tomatoes in our garden, I anticipate eating one of those sun warmed beauties picked right off the plant and scoffing at the memory of the rock-hard flavorless…

In celebration of our “Festival of the Forks,” coming up this next weekend, we go way back to the beginning of Albion’s history. Tenney Peabody (1792-1856) was the first white settler at “the Forks” of the Kalamazoo River. In March,…

On the evening of Sept. 11, Cascade Falls in Jackson, Michigan, provided a solemn backdrop for a memorial honoring the victims and first responders of the 9/11 attacks. Organized by the Jackson, MI Tunnel to Towers Foundation, the event brought…