Former Plainwell orthodontist sentenced to 60 years for child exploitation
Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher Thomas Patrick Shannon, the former owner of Shannon Orthodontics in Plainwell and Grandville, has been sentenced to 60 years in federal prison on child exploitation charges — the maximum allowed under the law. On Monday, U.S. District…
Data center opposition continues in Dorr Township
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher Pushback against proposed data centers continued in Dorr Township this weekend, as the local Facebook group “Dorr Township MI – We the People” hosted a Saturday meeting with lawmakers, residents, and industrial experts who believe Microsoft’s…
M-89 Cinema to host West Michigan’s first dementia-friendly movie program
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher Dementia is a tragic, progressive decline in mental ability that causes memory loss, cognitive deterioration, and functional impairment. It affects more than 55 million people worldwide and is the seventh-leading cause of death. Its most well-known…
Harsh winter weather grips Allegan and Van Buren Counties
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher A prolonged stretch of winter weather brought snow, extreme cold, and hazardous travel conditions to Allegan and Van Buren Counties over the past week, disrupting daily routines and prompting multiple school closings as districts prioritized safety.The active weather…
Allegan recycling center participates in controversial Day of Action
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher On Friday, Jan. 23, thousands of Minnesotans participated in an “ICE Out” Day of Action, involving rallies, marches, and protests against the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident…
British TikTok duo visit South Haven, Saugatuck
Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher The United States often fascinates those from other countries. From food, sports, and politics to nearly everything in between, American life can feel markedly different from the typical European experience. One of its greatest marvels is the…
Grain bin temperature evacuates portion of Decatur
Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher Life is relatively quiet and peaceful in the small village of Decatur, and it rarely makes any headlines. However, on Saturday, January 10th, it was quite the opposite.The Cargill grain bins are among the village’s most recognizable…
Dorr Township residents oppose, question potential data center
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher In the latter half of 2024, Microsoft Corporation completed one of the largest single-use land purchases in Dorr Township history, paying approximately $48 million for a 272-acre parcel off 144th Avenue near U.S. 131. The property…
Downtown Allegan kicks off Festive Friday celebrations
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher Downtown Allegan welcomed the season of lights and cheer last Friday, December 5th, as it kicked off its annual Festive Fridays, a series of holiday-themed evenings designed to bring the community together through shopping, strolling, and…
Northside Park Arsonist sentenced to 57 months to 10 years
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher Shortly after midnight on Tuesday, September 2nd, firefighters were dispatched to Otsego’s Northside Park to battle a horrific blaze. While the flames remained contained to a small 20-by-40-foot area, the park’s beloved wooden play structure, known…
Stolen Jeep leads to multi-agency search, school closures
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher On Sunday, September 28th, at approximately 3:02 p.m., Kalamazoo County dispatchers received multiple reports of a red Jeep Wrangler driving erratically southbound on Oakland Drive. Witnesses observed the vehicle leaving the roadway and crashing into a…
Arcade to host 16th annual Midwest Soda Pop Festival
Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher After a short delay due to road construction, the Midwest Soda Pop Festival is back for its 16th year. On this Sunday, October 5, from noon to 4 p.m., Klassic Arcade 1.0 on M-40 will transform into…
Soup Suppers return to Decatur
Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher The familiar aroma of simmering soup will soon fill the fellowship hall at the Holy Family Catholic Church as Decatur’s long-running Soup Suppers return for another season. The community tradition, now more than two decades old, raises…
Arrest made in Hopkins cockfighting incident
Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher On Tuesday, September 23rd, 37-year-old Edin Dilson Rodas of Hopkins Township was arraigned in the 57th District Court on five felony charges related to cockfighting. Rodas and his wife own property just south of Hopkins, at 2534…
Hopkins Middle School teacher suspended for unprofessional comments
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher Seventh-grade English teacher, Sarah Ruegsegger has been suspended from her classroom at Hopkins Middle School after being accused of making inappropriate comments in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination.The alleged comments were first brought to light by a concerned…
AHS online student apprehended following threat
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher Before school even started on the morning of Friday, September 19th, Allegan Public Schools (APS) notified parents that a former Allegan High School student who is currently enrolled in the Allegan Online program had been arrested…
Father-son argument devolves into vicious stabbing
Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher On the night of Wednesday, September 3rd, Kalamazoo County Dispatchers were alerted to a stabbing in Schoolcraft Township. Around 8:50 pm, Michigan State Police (MSP) troopers arrived at the Hall home on West VW Avenue between South…
Wings West and Wings Event Center to close, hockey parents worried
Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher For many years, Wings West has been more than a building. It has been a gathering place, a training ground, and a second home for athletes, families, and fans. The beloved Texas Township hockey arena opened in…
LG Energy suffers second major accident in two months
By Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher For the second time in less than two months, there’s been another major accident at LG Energy Solution. On Saturday, September 6th, there was a massive chemical spill at the Fillmore Township plant responsible for producing electric vehicle…
Three injured in Dodge City Amish buggy crash
Jordan WilcoxAssistant Publisher The Clare County Amish Community is grieving this week, as three were injured in another buggy crash.According to multiple Facebook posts, Levi Troyer, his wife Naomi, and their 4-month-old daughter, Little Naomi, were traveling on Townline Lake…
