2024
Saugatuck boys drop game to archrival Fennville
By Jason WesseldykSports EditorFacing a 16-point deficit at halftime, the Saugatuck boys basketball team closed the gap to seven points in the closing minutes of its game with archrival Fennville on Monday, Dec. 9.But the Trailblazers would get no closer…
Obituary: Regina Marie Johandes
Regina Marie Johandes 60, passed away peacefully to join her Lord and Savior on Nov. 17, 2024 at Trillium Woods Faith Hospice Home with exceptional care from the nurses and aides at the facility.Regina was born on July 14,1964 to…
Blue Star
By Scott SullivanEditorOutside the BoxYou don’t see orgone accumulators a lot these days. I blame science. They were all the rage in the 1950s when every luminary from William S. Burroughs to Orson Bean sat in coffin-shaped boxes designed to…
Raising canes
Saugatuck’s annual Whootville Christmas Parade Saturday brought sunshine plus Peppermint Stick Brigadiers downtown to spray silly string at their rival men’s “Precision” Snow Shovel Drill Team. More marchers, mirth and merriment filled holiday streets as well. (Photos by Scott Sullivan)
Allegan girls beat Wyoming Lee
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor WYOMING—The 2024-25 season started on a high note for the Allegan girls basketball team.Traveling to Wyoming to take on Lee, the Tigers used a balanced scoring attack to claim the 68-8 victory.“This was a big road…
Otsego girls even record at 1-1 with win over Niles
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor OTSEGO—A strong first half helped carry the Otsego girls basketball team to the 44-31 win over visiting Niles in the opening game of Wolverine Conference play on Friday, Dec. 6.The Bulldogs, who evened their record at…
Obituary: Peggy Rose (Thompson) Arnsman
Peggy Rose (Thompson) Arnsman passed peacefully on December 1, 2024, at Home in Hopkins, Michigan. She was born in Bowling Green, Ohio on April 3, 1937, to her late parents Richard and Alice (Rose) Thompson. Peggy grew up in Hopkins,…
Obituary: Joan (Jody) Huene Simonds
Joan (Jody) Huene Simonds, a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away on November 30, 2024, at the age of 96. Joan was born in Chicago on July 14, 1928, to Dorothy and Nevin Huene. Her life was one…
Festive Friday ushers Downtown Allegan into the Christmas season
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher Last Friday, December 6th, was the first of Downtown Allegan’s Festive Fridays, and the Christmas Spirit was in full swing.Local businesses were decorated with lights, garlands, ornaments, and trees. Free hot chocolate was available, courtesy of…
Canvassers seek pay increase
By John RaffelCorrespondent ALLEGAN — Citing increased duties related to changes in stateelection law, specifically early voting and expanded absentee voting, the Allegan County Board of Canvassers last week passed a resolution asking the Board of Commissioners to increase its…
Former parent club member faces charges
By Jason WesseldykSports Editor A former member of the Gilkey Elementary School Parent Club in Plainwell had her first day in court.Tara Lynn Drewyor, 44, was arraigned in district court on Monday, Dec. 9. She was charged with embezzlement—$50,000 or…
Lawrence defeats Michigan Lutheran
By John RaffelCorrespondent LAWRENCE — The Lawrence Tigers defeated Michigan Lutheran 46-19 The Lawrence Tigers picked up a big victory over Michigan Lutheran, securing a 46-19 win, their first against Michigan Lutheran since 2016.Carolina Mancera led the Tigers with 18…
Obituary: Janet Louise Hamay
Janet Louise Hamay, 80, of Paw Paw, passed away Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, at Maple Lake Assisted Living, Paw Paw. She was born April 6, 1944, in Coloma, MI, the daughter of Carl and Emma (Behnke) Skibbe.Janet retired from the…
Life as Performance Art
Lately, we have seen the phrase Deus vult — Latin for “God wills it” — in the news.It first used by Pope Urban II in 1095, when he launched the first Crusade. He wanted to convince kings and sub-jects to…
Mike’s Musings: Penny should have not been brought to trial
A 26-year-old former marine has had his life turned upside down after trying to subdue a stranger on a subway in New York City. Daniel Penny jumped in to stop the stranger who was threatening to kill other passengers. For…
Casco fire destroys barn, farm implements
Fire destroyed a barn on a Casco Township (Allegan County) property on Sunday night.South Haven Area Emergency Services (SHAES) responded at 10:15 p.m. to 68th Street near 103rd Avenue when a neighbor reported seeing a barn on fire.The barn was…
South Haven hires a new police chief
By James Windell The City of South Haven announced on Monday, December 9, 2024, that a new police chief has been hired.South Haven City Manager Kate Hosier, in a press release, said that the city was hiring Kevin Swope to…
City Council approves short term rental moratorium
By James Windell Amidst an inability to pass a revised short term rental ordinance, something that has been in discussion for at least two years, the South Haven City Council approved a six-month morato-rium on the issue.Both residents speaking at…
Paw Paw kicked off holiday season with tree lighting and children’s parade
The Paw Paw Children’s Christmas Parade saw a wide variety of participation, from the Paw Paw High School Marching band, to costumed characters, The Island of Misfit Toys draped over a school bus, a horse drawn sleigh and wagon, members…
Casey Davis appointed as Van Buren County Undersheriff
PAW PAW – The Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office announced on Monday, Dec. 9, that Lt. Casey Davis has been appointed as undersheriff at the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office.Undersheriff Casey Davis brings a wealth of experience to this position,…